Triskel Life

As an adult I’ve grown jealous of school aged children, teachers, and those with ample amounts of paid vacation time when summer roles around. I see them stroll the streets of my town iced coffee in hand, slow paced, beach sand caught between their toes. I imagine if I were them what I would be doing. Would I be reading more? Spend a slow morning over a latte with the newspaper? Lay on the beach? But in the past couple of weeks my life has been full of wonderful summertime experiences, and I feel there is nothing to be jealous of. Of the many things I have enjoyed, the highlights have been both expertly planned and completely on the fly–both equal in richness. One of the simplest and most delightful was Triskel Hubby and I claiming a simple afterwork picnic on the beach, complemented by a bevy of sailboats on the water and a perfect sunset. Another was a night of Rumikube with my mother and sister, where my sis finally laughed and smiled (not always a regular occurance).The latest was a weekend in the Happiest Place on Earth only somewhat dampened by the 104 degree temperature. Tomorrow night is sundown soccer with the work crew. So indeed I have my own summer full of delights, no vacation necessary.

There is nothing like bountiful sunshine and a brightly colored fresh harvest to fill up your senses and make you grateful for being alive. Today as I strolled the aisles of our local farmers’ market I thought about how lucky I am and how much I am grateful for.

After a hard weekend of feeling upset and worrying about my employment I purchased a copy of SARK’s book Prosperity Pie. She supports the idea that we already have everything we need, we are enough, and we know enough. It was just the reminder I needed to get out of my own head of worry and circular thoughts. An exercise I found especially thought provoking was writing down things you are grateful for, large and small, simple and silly. Of course, I couldn’t help but draw my list into my watercolor journal, pictured here.

This is just a taste of my never complete, always growing list of things a I’m grate-”full” for:
- Having a job! - My husbands hugs and smiles - My cat Jasmine’s never ending love - Not needing an alarm clock - Steamed milk & apple pie - My fuzzy blue bathrobe - Really good cheese - Sunrises - Redwood trees with ferns ensnaring them - Pink jasmine flowers - A full nights sleep! - Waking up to the sound of birds (not 18 wheelers) - Cool earrings - A nest-like bed - Friends who totally get me and love me exactly how I am

That’s just the beginning and a taste of the things that make my life juicy.

So share with me, what are you grateful for?

On Friday I got skunked, both literally and figuratively. My day began at exactly midnight with a skunk attack upon our pooch Guinness just outside the backdoor, leading Guinness to run wildly about the house spreading the scent. But amazingly, this was not the most unexpected part of my day. After a detox dog bath and opening all the windows, I headed out to a fairly normal day at work and a deliciously light dinner of sushi. Then I got home.
On my answering machine was a message from the HR Director at my “new” job–the one I’ve already given 2-weeks notice for and announced to the world. Seems there are “big changes” happening at the company and that they CANNOT bring me “on board.” I went from 2 jobs to zero in sixty seconds flat. Lets just say, ever so eloquently, it sucked.
My current boss (God bless her) is more than willing to hire me back, but we won’t know for sure until it is discussed with management. If I’m lucky, I will get to stay at my current job, continue riding my bike to work, and carry on.
While I cannot say this hasn’t been a very difficult weekend for me, I have to believe that there is a greater reason all of this has happened. The universe has much to teach me. Since my objective is to learn more, I can now reconsider registering for that Business Calc class at the Junior College and possible night-time MBA programs.
While the dust has not yet settled I am okay and know I will survive. Hopefully stronger in the long run because of it.

You may have heard of a Booty Call, but just what is a Bouteille Call? Well, it’s a naughty little port dessert wine produced by the infamous, notorious, irreverent Bonny Doon Vineyard. Why does this matter to you and me (besides that it’s a tasty beverage)? Because I have accepted a position as their new Ecommerce Coordinator where I will be charged with handling their online sales, emails and membership fulfillment among other things.

Why Bonny Doon you ask? Well, following my graduation from college I spent sleepless nights, hot showers and walks along the shore contemplating my direction in life. Who did I want to be? What was my place on this planet? What was my final destination and how was I going to get there? Unfortunately, the ultimate goal wasn’t clear, and still isn’t. I’ve considered many possibilities: Director of a Non-profit, Marketing Director, private Marketing Consultant. But these all had the same requirement: there was more I needed to learn and whatever job it was, I wanted it to be in an industry/cause I am passionate about. So I journaled nightly about what fills me up and excites me, trying to discover the best application for my talents. The repeating patterns were healthy living, animals, nature/outdoors, wine, music and art. And then, after many months, I saw a job listing for Bonny Doon Vineyard…

While I have learned much at my present job, my path here has ended and lead to this new fork which will allow me to learn the ecommerce side of marketing for a product I love that is marketed nationally. All new for me! Bonny Doon is not only a quality winemaker but a fun artistic one that is continuing to grow.

So on August 1 I will get my first sip of the wine world and start this unexplored trail. At least I have my new bike for the journey. Wish me luck!

I’m not sure where exactly I got the bug to pursue a meaningful life, or the firm belief that you can create and build the life you want (instead of just living one that’s handed to you). But I’m sure one of my early influences was my dad, Papa Triskel. He has lead several lives, from kayak instructor, to bus driver, and most recently uber-stressed out management man (I can actually give him ties for Father’s Day now). However, his change in job duties resulted in his surrendering to the hopeless abyss of stress, despite years of preaching to me about balance. Papa was the one who taught me to “read” the river, the man who stopped to point out the first signs of Solomon’s Seal along a hiking trail, or hit the road to see fresh wildflowers. How could it all fade so quickly under the fluorescent lights of the management world? Could not the two be meshed? But when I feared all was lost, Papa took a leave of absence and began the long, slow process of a rebound. At this passage I thought it would be fitting to find out what he’s learned and discovered about himself, his life, and happiness during this process, so I asked him a few questions.

An Interview with Papa Triskel

#1. You were the man who taught me about the “B” word - Balance. How do you feel about that mantra today?

Still believe in the concept… it’s putting into practice that I find challenging. When I went back after my leave [of absence], and ever since, I’ve been wearing my “yin-yang” earring to remind me.

#2. What have you personally found to be the most effective in achieving a work/life balance?

The period when I was most successful with that was the first couple of years of driving a bus. Work that was a benefit to the community (and planet), but that didn’t require me to 100% focus my energies there. When you punched out, you left the work behind. I built in time to take care of my body and I still had time/energy at home.

#3. You joke that you’re “almost set.” Tell me about a time that you felt you were, in fact, set.

There are moments that I have felt “set”. The strongest image that comes up for me is sitting in camp on the banks of the Klamath, after days of “chilling in”, boating, swimming, biking, reading. Sitting in a camp chair in the late afternoon with a cold beer watching TV (Turkey Vultures). Nothing needing to be done, no one needing taking care of…

#4. What was the best part of your day today? What made you laugh/smile?
So far today, the best parts have been going for a walk, finding that my bike tires still hold air, and setting up the washer to drain into the flowers (reusing a waste product rather than putting it into the septic/leach field). So far today, Ginger [the dog] has made me smile. She is the embodiment of love and acceptance. She has the sweetest smile.

#5. What’s next in your process to achieve balance/what are your goals for the next year?

Well, I put the bike rack on the car yesterday and aired up the tires in my bike today… I’ve been trying to be sure to walk more regularly. It’s time to start getting into shape to go on vacation. I’m cutting back a bit on my “working from home” hours. Next in the process…spending more time with you! My goal remains the same as my new year’s resolution… to have more FUN!

Here are few key points Papa Triskel provides:
-Give yourself visual reminders to remember balance throughout the day
-Detach mentally from your job at the end of the day, or find a job that lets you do so
-Doing nothing is, in fact, doing something (relaxing)
-Animals are a great way to connect and be grounded
-Life is always a work in progress.

Thanks Dad!