Category Archives: outdoors

Nudged: Have a cup of coffee/glass of wine on the front porch

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Backstory: Many years ago, upon returning home from a vacation in France, I thought about what had been so special about our experiences–specifically, what were some practices or rituals I could continue back at home. One that had a huge impact was how we eased into dinnertime.

For several weeks after that trip, instead of my usual dash from office to kitchen at 6:00 pm (or 7 or 8), I made a point of slowing down, breathing, pouring something lovely (wine or Pellegrino with a slice of lime), then sipping that while nibbling a few olives or cubes of delicious and aromatic cheese. I’d like to resume this practice and make it a habit.

Maybe I’ll take in a sunset, or maybe I’ll get up with the sun. I plan to sit on our front porch; you might step into your backyard or ease into a chair with a lovely view. Whatever the circumstances, let’s be intentional about taking a few minutes to rest and reset ourselves.

What Happened: Inspired, I got up early one morning and sat in the quiet. Birdsong, clear skies, a steaming cup of tea (it’s what I was in the mood for), and Louie by my side. What a beautiful way to start the day.

The Ah-Hahs: No surprises with this Nudge, just reminders of how lovely my front porch is and how good it feels to sit here for a while and enjoy it.

 

Nudging: Have a cup of coffee/glass of wine on the front porch

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Backstory: Many years ago, upon returning home from a vacation in France, I thought about what had been so special about our experiences–specifically, what were some practices or rituals I could continue back at home. One that had a huge impact was how we eased into dinnertime.

For several weeks after that trip, instead of my usual dash from office to kitchen at 6:00 pm (or 7 or 8), I made a point of slowing down, breathing, pouring something lovely (wine or Pellegrino with a slice of lime), then sipping that while nibbling a few olives or cubes of delicious and aromatic cheese. I’d like to resume this practice and make it a habit.

Maybe I’ll take in a sunset, or maybe I’ll get up with the sun. I plan to sit on our front porch; you might step into your backyard or ease into a chair with a lovely view. Whatever the circumstances, let’s be intentional about taking a few minutes to rest and reset ourselves.

 

What’s up with the ladybug?

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“Listen, when I was a little girl, I used to spend hours looking for ladybugs. Finally, I’d just give up and fall asleep in the grass. When I woke up, they were crawling all over me.”

I love this line from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. It’s a reminder that sometimes, when we want something desperately, instead of striving and begging, the best course of action is to quiet ourselves and let it come to us.*

Ladybugs also delight me. They’re always a surprise. You’re out in a park or your own backyard, and you look down, and there’s this sweet little thing tickling your hand. You stop for a moment, and the world stops around you. For a few precious moments, your whole focus goes to watching that bug, feeling its presence, taking in its simple beauty.

As I considered different logos for 52Nudges, my first instinct was to go with a bird being nudged out of its nest, but the images I found were either too cute or slightly violent (yikes!). A butterfly seemed the obvious choice: transformation, breaking out of a shell, spreading my wings. But I wasn’t feeling it, and I kept thinking about the ladybug. Curious, I looked up the symbolism at World Birds and discovered ladybugs represent “good fortune, true love…the right choices in life…and the time of the fruition of your dreams and wishes.” “When you encounter a ladybug spirit animal,” I learned, “you can be sure that positive transformations are on the way.”

Positive transformations are on the way.

That feels just right, so ladybug it is.

From past rounds of nudges, I know that I will be surprised by what I draw each Sunday, and that many of the Ah-hahs that come from those nudges will delight and inspire me. I’m excited to see what the 52Nudges 3.0 experience will bring into my life. We start December 12. Won’t you join me?

*In the movie, after Frances follows Katherine’s advice in the quote above, she returns to report: “Ladybugs, Katherine. Lots and lots of ladybugs….”

 

 

Nudged: Answer a call

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Backstory: How do you make God laugh? You tell her your plans.

It’s an old joke, but lately it’s felt like much of my life. Between sheltering-in-place (for months and months…), political upheaval and civil unrest (that’s putting it mildly), a family member with COVID (wear your mask!), and the widespread fires and resulting deep layers of smoke, few things have gone as planned. This has included recent Nudges. I drew tasks that I really looked forward to, only to have them kiboshed by forces way out of my control.

Instead of crawling under the covers till it all passes, I decided to get creative this week. I am doing a Nudge that is not off the original list, one that will allow surprise and spontaneity.

“Answer a call” does not mean picking up a call from “Unknown”. It does not mean picking up when I see the caller is someone I really really don’t feel like talking to. Instead, it means listening to myself. Listening to that still, small (and occasionally nagging) voice inside me. And when it says “You should do this,” whatever “this” might be, I have every intention (not “plan”) to drop what I’m doing and…well, you know.

What Happened: I’ve been reading a book about the Law of Attraction, and earlier this week I read a passage about the importance of clearing space to make room for what I want. This gives a whole new dimension to my ongoing decluttering efforts. I’ve been so focused on “getting rid of” (shredding, tossing, sharing) that I haven’t given much thought to “what I want.” Until this week. 😉

There are many big projects on my to do list, one of which is going through my closet. Daunting! There’s stuff in there…I don’t even know where to begin. Stuff that doesn’t fit, suit my current lifestyle (or climate), feel good, or look good. I’ve long wanted to upgrade to Me 2020, but have put it off until…I lose weight, make some extra cash, activate my Stitch Fix account, decide what my authentic style is, win the lottery…. Till then, there’s just been a soft nagging to “Get to it.”

This morning I finished a client job ahead of deadline and had the gift of a little free time. As I headed back to my office after lunch, that soft voice got louder and announced “SHOES!”

A section of the pre-sort jumble.

Okay then. That was my “call”. I set a timer for 30 minutes, pulled everything out, and sorted. Final tally: 5 embarrassingly worn-out pairs to the trash, 2 barely worn pairs to the donation box, and 6 empty boxes that have just been taking up space. Inspired, I added to the donation box a special occasion dress I’ve worn once in seven years. (Even though it was pretty on the hanger, it made me feel frumpy.)

The shoes that went back into my closet are neatly organized, which feels good. But what might make me the happiest is these beauties got pulled out of the shadows and into an easily accessible spot.

Ready to go!

Plans to go on hikes with friends are on hold right now, till the fires are contained and smoke cleared. But as soon as we get the okay from the air quality index, I’ll be ready to go.

The Ah-Hahs: I do like having plans. I like setting goals, breaking them down, and checking steps off my list until I reach the finish line. However. Life is rarely that direct, so I’m learning to work with zigs and zags, to go with the flow, to open myself up to new opportunities. I suppose I end up in the same place, and some times the journey feels a little more fun when it isn’t just about being at the destination.

This week’s nudge was a perfect example of that. It was spontaneous and productive. As I type this, I feel lighter — and not just because I’ve unloaded some old stuff. Maybe it’s because I took a “must do” and reframed it into a “nudge”. Maybe it’s because once I cleared away the worn-out and uncomfortable stuff, I was left with the nice and comfortable stuff. Maybe it’s simply because I found a way to physically experience the act of clearing space to make way for good of every kind to come into my life. 🙂

 

Nudging: Jump rope

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Backstory: This nudge came from the list I made of things I loved doing when I was a kid. What makes the timing perfect is I am completely bored by my exercise options. Great opportunity to mix things up!

If jumping rope is not your thing, pick an activity you loved doing as a kid that you haven’t done in a while (coloring, baking cookies, playing dress-up) or pull out that box of old sports gear and get outside to play!

Nudged: Notice something

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Backstory: Oooo I love this nudge! It is inspired by artist Jenny Odell. I heard her speak at the In/Visible Talks design+art conference in 2018 (you’ll find the video of her talk on “How to Do Nothing” here), and her suggestion to “notice” things has stuck with me.

Using Jenny’s example, instead of bird-watching–which is a sort of doing, where you look for birds and check them off your list–you shift your attention to bird-noticing. You might listen for different bird songs, take in the brilliant colors in their feathers, watch for different patterns of flight. It’s a practice that encourages me to slow down, quiet myself, focus, and appreciate.

On a vacation, this nudge reminded me to stop on my walks and do a 360, literally turn around in a circle and take in everything around me. What a revelation! I noticed pebbles, clouds, architectural details, and the feel of the breeze on my skin. Another time, while doing my weekly grocery shopping, I slowed my rush to finish the task and noticed how beautifully bizarre fresh produce is. I mean–artichokes! I have a special respect for the first person who figured out how to eat one. (I like mine steamed in beer and dipped in melted butter, btw.)

Another aspect I love about this nudge is the necessary element of surprise. Who knows what I will notice–and be delighted by–this week!

What Happened: Whenever I travel to a new-to-me city, I love to get up really early one morning and walk that city as it wakes up. When you don’t have to navigate auto and pedestrian traffic, you are freed up to notice more of your surroundings. I’ve discovered all sorts of delights.

Lately, walking for exercise has felt to me like a competitive sport. I feel like I have to GET OUT (to lessen the sheltering-in-place cabin fever) and BURN CALORIES (because our gym is closed indefinitely and…well…the comfort food I consumed in the first several months of COVID have caught up with me). But there’s also the added stress of having to dodge fellow walkers. I’ll be walking along and see a family coming toward me, so I’ll step out into the street to allow proper social distancing. Or some maskless yahoo comes toward me, and I scramble to get as much distance as possible between us. Blood pressure waaay up!

Wednesday morning I got up extra early, before the sun peeked over the horizon, and headed out into my neighborhood. My route was pretty much the same one I take any other day, but this time I had it to myself. I didn’t see a single car or person, and as a result, I got to look around. I noticed roofline flourishes I’d never seen before. I noticed who has recently installed solar panels. Instead of looking at gardens or living room setups (this is what I normally look at, to get ideas for my own home), I noticed who has the lights on and wondered who was up with insomnia, a fussing baby, morning prayers, or an idea for a novel that just couldn’t wait. I also noticed smells from brewing coffee and frying bacon (yum) and someone’s pungent marijuana.

It was such a brilliant way to “wake up” to the day that I decided to do it again on Thursday.

It didn’t quite work out as planned. Thursday morning I hit the desk early and, before I knew it, it was past lunchtime. Determined to give it another go, I headed out midafternoon. I was pretty much beating myself up for blowing the nudge when a fantastic purple tree stopped me in my tracks.

Notice-purple-1

I recalled how, early in our quarantine days, a couple of friends had motivated themselves to get outside for walks by setting the intention to find things of a certain color. So that’s what I did. For the last half of my walk, I noticed–and took photos of–everything I could spot in every shade of purple. It was awesome! I’d see something and dash across the street to take a closer look. I’d giggle and whoop when I discovered something new. I shot closeups. I marveled at all the shades. I found lots of flowers, of course, but also pebbles and tiles. Was hoping to find a purple house (this is San Francisco, after all), but no luck. Maybe on the next walk.

The Ah-Hahs: Both of my noticing walks were delightful. Also, when I got home from the purple walk, I realized that for those full 20 or so minutes, I had not once thought of any of the worries I’ve been carrying for weeks.

Nudging: Notice something

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Backstory: Oooo I love this nudge! It is inspired by artist Jenny Odell. I heard her speak at the In/Visible Talks design+art conference in 2018 (you’ll find the video of her talk on “How to Do Nothing” here), and her suggestion to “notice” things has stuck with me.

Using Jenny’s example, instead of bird-watching–which is a sort of doing, where you look for birds and check them off your list–you shift your attention to bird-noticing. You might listen for different bird songs, take in the brilliant colors in their feathers, watch for different patterns of flight. It’s a practice that encourages me to slow down, quiet myself, focus, and appreciate.

On a vacation, this nudge reminded me to stop on my walks and do a 360, literally turn around in a circle and take in everything around me. What a revelation! I noticed pebbles, clouds, architectural details, and the feel of the breeze on my skin. Another time, while doing my weekly grocery shopping, I slowed my rush to finish the task and noticed how beautifully bizarre fresh produce is. I mean–artichokes! I have a special respect for the first person who figured out how to eat one. (I like mine steamed in beer and dipped in melted butter, btw.)

Another aspect I love about this nudge is the necessary element of surprise. Who knows what I will notice–and be delighted by–this week!

 

Nudging: Pick something from the Big To Do List

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Backstory: The intention behind this nudge is to pick one of those BIG PROJECTS that have reappeared on various editions of my Big To Do List–and this is the important part (that doesn’t quite fit in the headline space): break it down into smaller steps and finally start getting it done.

I checked my notes from when I first created my nudges List, and this is the what I thought I might do:

Plan a Picnic: pick a date, invite family and friends, pull the picnic basket (an item that I love) up from the basement and give it a good cleaning, go through cookbooks and plan a fun menu, select games (bocce ball!), pick a park….

I’m more than a little sad that I can’t do all of this right now (darn COVID), and I’m tempted to do part of it because I really do miss picnics. It’s been several years since I’ve been on a proper picnic, which is why having one has been on the to do list for so long.

However, doing “part” is not the point of this nudge. So I’m going to take a look at the really BIG PROJECTS on my list and pick one. Maybe I’ll make a plan for starting a Victory (against COVID) Garden and growing my own salads. Maybe this is the week I do some research on what I’ll need to take a trip to Portugal (someday) and set up a special savings account with a plan for regular small deposits. I might sand and paint an old desk that desperately needs a facelift. Or I could go for one of the projects on my list that gets me closer to achieving a professional goal.

What are you inspired to tackle this week?

Nudged: Treat my feet

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Backstory: Upon drawing this morning’s nudge, my first thought was PEDICURE! It’s been over two years since I’ve had a full-service professional pedicure, and this may be the week I pull the money from my budget and treat myself to an hour of pampering. (Face mask on, of course.)

But then I pulled my notes about what inspired this nudge, and it was simply to lather my feet in thick lotion and put them up in some heated booties (a gift from a friend that I haven’t used as much as I should). That’s more in line with my “rules”, which dictates that nudges must be “cheap”.

We’ll see how I feel as I head into the week.

What might you do to treat your feet — or any part of you that needs a little extra TLC — this week?

What Happened: I was all set to give myself the full treatment at home: soak in a tub of hot water and Epsom salt, scrub the callouses off, trim the cuticles, polish the nails in some cheery color. Then (and stay with me), I asked my feet what they wanted.

They wanted to walk in the sand.

feet in sand

So off to the beach I went, for a long barefooted walk.

It was exactly the treat my sweet feet — and sweet spirit — needed.

The Ah-Hahs: It was in February of this year that I finally — after nearly 10 years of living here — spent time at the beach near my home. That one nudge shifted so many things for me, and now the beach is where I go whenever I need a reboot.

sand dollar

The air, the sounds and feel of the water, and the sand (bonus: natural callous-scrubber!) are all free. I’m learning again and again with these nudges to appreciate — and take full advantage of — the simplest pleasures.

Nudged: Have lunch outside

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Backstory: I have such good intentions, but then so often I’m “too busy”. This nudge is about shaking up the routine.

After I pulled this nudge this morning, I thought about my options. The obvious choice for me is to head to the backyard (I work from home even when we aren’t sheltering-in-place). Back in my corporate days, I would find a place to sit in a courtyard, near a fountain, perhaps. In a perfect world, of course, I’d find a pretty spot in a park or on the beach.

Speaking of the sheltering-in-place, my husband and I got creative when we wanted to get out. A few times we picked up sandwiches to go, found a spot with a view of the Pacific Ocean, and had a “picnic” in the car. This would fulfill this nudge too.

If none of the above work, at the very least, I can open a window.

Hope you can get out this week.

What Happened: The day started like so many others. I faced a long to do list of work, household, and personal projects. I ate breakfast while standing at the kitchen counter and multitasking. In between nibbles and sips, I emptied and reloaded the dishwasher, fed the dog, checked the headlines, planned the menu for dinner, made mental notes about this ‘n’ that….

As lunch time came (and whooshed by), I was tempted to do more of the same…until I remembered this nudge. I put my food on a real plate and headed to the cute little bistro table in my backyard.

For a few minutes I allowed myself to stop and enjoy an unrushed meal.

lunch outside 2020

The Ah-Hahs: Though it was fairly uninspired menu of leftovers, I actually tasted and enjoyed my food. I slowed my breathing. I listened to the birds and felt the warmth of the sun on my skin. I read a few pages of a novel. I thought about things other than the afternoon’s deadlines.

Specifically, I brought back memories of the days when most of my meals were taken outside. (Granted, that was when I lived in Southern California and the weather cooperated.) I routinely started the day with a cup of tea on the front porch. Lunch on the back patio. Dinner under the blooming crepe myrtle tree.

One of my favorite annual events was what I called the French Picnic. I invited a handful of friends over, asking each to bring a Francophile dish. Champagne, tarts, freshly baked bread, seasonal fruits, and simple proteins appeared. We dragged my full-size dining table into the front yard and covered it with the cloth from Provence and small vases filled with lavender. We shared the food, we shared stories. We shared our lives.

Over these past few months, as we’ve practiced strict social distancing, conversations with family and friends have included the question: “What do you want to do most when this is over?”

I finally have my answer.