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experiencelifemag.com
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Happy Lessons
Developing the themes for this “Rejoice” issue, and perhaps especially this
issue’s “Celebrate Your Success” feature reminded me that it’s time
for my annual “stuff I learned this year” letter.
By Pilar Gerasimo |
December 2004 |
As usual, a lot of
what I
learned I harvested from working on
the magazine. So I want to
start by
expressing gratitude for
that opportunity and heartfelt
appreciation for all the
great
ideas and resources that other people
have shared (or just let me cop).
An
extra-big thanks to our super
staff.
Last year I did a top-10 list, but this year I’m feeling a little less listy,
a little more stream-of-consciousness. So here, in no particular order, are some
of the most valuable “aha” moments I took away from the past 12 months: Sleep is serious business. The “Getting to Sleep” feature we did back in
November reconvinced me of something I’ve known intuitively (and from personal
experience) for a long time, but that I tend to forget when I’m busy: Namely,
that not getting enough sleep trashes your immunity and generally turns you into
a miserable wretch. I started forcing myself to bed an hour earlier this fall,
and it helped a lot. I also became more cautious about keeping my bedroom
clutter-free and I started winding down at least 30 minutes before bedtime with
a bath, a little slow yoga or some journaling, and that really helped. The
bonus: More great dreams.
Play pays you back. There were a few times this year when I played really fun
games of no-rules softball with my family, including my niece, Xanthi, who is 13
and has a terrific arm (she is the first girl in our family to not throw “like a
girl”), and my nephew, Toliver, who is 10 and does this great thing where he
goes weaving and zigzagging totally off the baseline in order to avoid being
tagged. It’s hilarious, and he’s a fast runner, so he’s hard to catch,
particularly while you’re laughing. Anyway, these games are among my most
favorite memories of the year, all of them played on weekends when I had a lot
of work to do but decided that playing was more important. In each case, it was
the right decision, and I am totally convinced that whatever time I spent
goofing off and laughing with my family more than paid for itself in renewed
creativity, improved focus and a happier outlook. So thanks, X and T. I love
being on your team.
Kindness is a virtue. No news there, but it sank in with me recently that one
of the best ways to cultivate this virtue is to be kind to yourself. This year,
for the first time, I approached my fitness training with a self-loving (vs.
self-driving) attitude. I used my heart-rate monitor to moderate my intensity
and to track my progress and recovery, and when a slightly elevated heart rate
told me I was overtraining, or under too much stress, I dialed my workouts back.
I did more yoga. I took long walks down by the river. I focused on recovery. At
one point, when I got really busy, I simplified my calisthenics down to pushups
and Pilates. Perhaps as a result, I was more consistent in my workouts this
year, and enjoyed them more, than at any other time in my life. I ended up
liking the results better, too.
There’s a lot more, of course, and most of it is catalogued, in one way or
another, in the articles from this and the past nine issues. This issue in
particular, though, is one of my favorites. Perhaps it’s because it reflects the
culmination of such a satisfying body of work. Or maybe it’s because I relate so
personally to so many of the articles (I think “Fire Your Inner Taskmaster”
might have been written for me).
In any case, I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as our team enjoyed
putting it together. I also hope you’ll share the articles with anyone you think
might connect with them. (Just a little plug here: Keep in mind that a
subscription to Experience Life makes a superb last-minute gift!)
One last “rejoice” item: We are thrilled and grateful to have more than a
half million passionate, intelligent, discerning readers. We appreciate all the
great feedback and ideas you gave us this year, and all the sweet pieces of
personal correspondence you sent our way. We look forward to hearing more from
you in 2005!
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|
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Happy Lessons
Developing the themes for this “Rejoice” issue, and perhaps especially this
issue’s “Celebrate Your Success” feature reminded me that it’s time
for my annual “stuff I learned this year” letter.
By Pilar Gerasimo | Thoughts From the Editor,
December 2004 |
As usual, a lot of
what I
learned I harvested from working on
the magazine. So I want to
start by
expressing gratitude for
that opportunity and heartfelt
appreciation for all the
great
ideas and resources that other people
have shared (or just let me cop).
An
extra-big thanks to our super
staff.
Last year I did a top-10 list, but this year I’m feeling a little less listy,
a little more stream-of-consciousness. So here, in no particular order, are some
of the most valuable “aha” moments I took away from the past 12 months: Sleep is serious business. The “Getting to Sleep” feature we did back in
November reconvinced me of something I’ve known intuitively (and from personal
experience) for a long time, but that I tend to forget when I’m busy: Namely,
that not getting enough sleep trashes your immunity and generally turns you into
a miserable wretch. I started forcing myself to bed an hour earlier this fall,
and it helped a lot. I also became more cautious about keeping my bedroom
clutter-free and I started winding down at least 30 minutes before bedtime with
a bath, a little slow yoga or some journaling, and that really helped. The
bonus: More great dreams.
Play pays you back. There were a few times this year when I played really fun
games of no-rules softball with my family, including my niece, Xanthi, who is 13
and has a terrific arm (she is the first girl in our family to not throw “like a
girl”), and my nephew, Toliver, who is 10 and does this great thing where he
goes weaving and zigzagging totally off the baseline in order to avoid being
tagged. It’s hilarious, and he’s a fast runner, so he’s hard to catch,
particularly while you’re laughing. Anyway, these games are among my most
favorite memories of the year, all of them played on weekends when I had a lot
of work to do but decided that playing was more important. In each case, it was
the right decision, and I am totally convinced that whatever time I spent
goofing off and laughing with my family more than paid for itself in renewed
creativity, improved focus and a happier outlook. So thanks, X and T. I love
being on your team.
Kindness is a virtue. No news there, but it sank in with me recently that one
of the best ways to cultivate this virtue is to be kind to yourself. This year,
for the first time, I approached my fitness training with a self-loving (vs.
self-driving) attitude. I used my heart-rate monitor to moderate my intensity
and to track my progress and recovery, and when a slightly elevated heart rate
told me I was overtraining, or under too much stress, I dialed my workouts back.
I did more yoga. I took long walks down by the river. I focused on recovery. At
one point, when I got really busy, I simplified my calisthenics down to pushups
and Pilates. Perhaps as a result, I was more consistent in my workouts this
year, and enjoyed them more, than at any other time in my life. I ended up
liking the results better, too.
There’s a lot more, of course, and most of it is catalogued, in one way or
another, in the articles from this and the past nine issues. This issue in
particular, though, is one of my favorites. Perhaps it’s because it reflects the
culmination of such a satisfying body of work. Or maybe it’s because I relate so
personally to so many of the articles (I think “Fire Your Inner Taskmaster”
might have been written for me).
In any case, I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as our team enjoyed
putting it together. I also hope you’ll share the articles with anyone you think
might connect with them. (Just a little plug here: Keep in mind that a
subscription to Experience Life makes a superb last-minute gift!)
One last “rejoice” item: We are thrilled and grateful to have more than a
half million passionate, intelligent, discerning readers. We appreciate all the
great feedback and ideas you gave us this year, and all the sweet pieces of
personal correspondence you sent our way. We look forward to hearing more from
you in 2005!
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