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Let her sleep

I have a story for you.

When Heather and I first went to Africa (1991), we were part of a 3-month-long training program that was designed to help us love Africa. And adjust to living there. Part of our training involved living with a family in rural Kenya for two weeks.

It was a stretching time, to say the least. We still keep in touch with one of the family members – which shows you it was a good experience, overall.

Anyhow, they ate dinner starting at about 9 pm. We were pretty tired by that time of the day, and listening to lively conversation in Kikamba (their language) for several hours was not always our choice of a relaxing way to end the day.

So one night – about halfway into our two weeks with them – just before dinner, Heather and I were chilling in our small room. Our guest knocked on the door to say it was dinnertime. I went to dinner alone. I said, “In our culture, it is wrong to wake someone when they are sleeping.” They bought it – after a little discussion on my part.

I knew she needed a break.

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Time is precious, part two

Advertising is part of life in this world (unless you live really off the beaten path – and if you’re reading this, you most likely aren’t).

We get a packet of junk mail every Wednesday. Without fail, I spend about three minutes sorting through the pile. Some weeks, I think I should just toss it all in the recycle bin before even looking at it. But I go through it anyway, to set out the supermarket flyers for Heather and to see if there are any other treasure awaiting. Most of the time there aren’t.

Takeaway: What things can you cut out of your routines to save time? And to save mental energy, be it however small an amount?

And by the way, happy new year!!

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Time is precious, part one

On Christmas eve, the family and I went to a nice service at our church. Toward the end, we did a candle-lighting thing, where everyone lit the candle of the person next to them. The ceremony itself had little meaning for me. But my reflections during the ceremony were deep. And sad.

I looked around at the families whose kids were small enough that they were given glow sticks to hold rather than a live flame. I realized the time between when my kids were that age – and now – seemed like just a few years. But it has been more than a few years.

So as you start your new year, seize the day. Enjoy those moments with your little ones, even though it’s a pain to chase them as they run across the room. Soon they’ll be running across the country.

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Not bad to dream

As 2010 winds down, I wanted to remind you – and me – that it’s not a bad thing to have dreams.

Of course the next step is – what are you doing about those dreams?

(I was amused that the owner of this small economy car in Malaysia, had on his dashboard – four Ferraris, three BMWs and one Porsche.)

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Cool baby shoes

I saw these and had to take a photo to share with you.

I love them. Almost makes me wanna have a baby again just so he or she could have a pair. (Don’t worry – that’s not gonna happen.)

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Look carefully before you sign on the dotted line

In Sunday’s Denver paper, there was an interesting article about Christian Kirschner. He did a time-share-like scheme for wealthy clientele. He ended up getting over his head and then branched into fraud, to keep things going.

Today? After swindling his clients out of more than $7 million, he is running a new venture: Executive Triathalon Coaching.

Tip: be careful. Sub-point: it’s strange that someone like that can stay in business and not be in prison. I was astonished at how quickly after his timeshare biz went under that he opened his new biz.

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Graffiti is universal

I love graffiti.

The spontaneity and daring that goes into this artform always fascinates me. I found this mural on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The artist even has his own website. And the video is worth checking out. Apparently he has traveled all over the world doing his art.

It’s interesting to me that the basic style of graffiti is quite similar all over the world.

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