Curious about Anticipation: What Are You Anticipating? How Is Anticipation Working in Your Life?

Definition of Anticipation: The act of anticipating, taking up, placing, or considering something beforehand, or before the proper time in natural order. Hasty notion; intuitive preconception.

“An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality; our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of performing.” - Samuel Smiles, Scottish writer

I chose anticipation for this week’s blog, because my whole weekend has been filled with anticipation. You may be wondering what anticipation. It is actually my anticipation of the beautiful garden I have been planning, shopping for, and doing all the work that will make it happen.

Even though I live in an apartment complex, I enjoy a large garden outside the side door to my building. When I moved here five years ago, I mentioned to the manager that the only thing I was going to miss from my former apartment was my roof garden. For my “housewarming gift” he had the garden dug up. And, I have been gardening ever since.

I also know that there can be down sides to anticipation as the Roman statesman, Seneca, points out, “Expecting is the greatest impediment to living. In anticipation of tomorrow, it loses today.” Yes, if we are always living in the future, we will lose the beauty of the present day.

This also speaks to looking forward with exciting anticipation to events and travel. How many times has the anticipation been greater than the event or trip? But, the anticipation can also be rewarding. And, what about visualization of a goal or intention?

For example, the English actress, Anna Neagle has a completely different take, “But if we learn to think of it as anticipation, as learning, as growing, if we think of the time we spend waiting for the big things of life as an opportunity instead of a passing of time, what wonderful horizons open out!”

Here are a few more of the interesting quotations I found:

• “If pleasures are greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of trouble.” -Elbert Hubbard, American writer
• “Such is the state of life, that none are happy but by the anticipation of change: the change itself is nothing; when we have made it, the next wish is to change again.” - Samuel Johnson, English author
• “He who matures early lives in anticipation.” - Theodor Adorno, German philosopher
• “Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.” - Norman Cousins, American editor
• “There is no more respected or influential forum in the field of journalism than the New York Times. I look forward, with great anticipation, to contributing to its op-ed page.” - Ted Koppel, American journalist
• “Conscience in most men, is but the anticipation of the opinions of others.” - Jeremy Taylor, English clergyman
• “I have good anticipation, and good reaction to the ball because I've played so many matches in my life.” - Martina Hingis, Czechoslovakian athlete

So, what do you think of anticipation? I would love to hear from you.

Curious about Complexity: How Does It Harm or Help You? Or Just Puzzle You? How Do You Deal With It?

Definition of Complexity: The state of being complex; intricacy; entanglement. That which is complex; intricacy; complication.

“I love to work. I love to have complexity.” - Mary McDonnell, American actress

“Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.” - Alan Perlis, American scientist

Because I spend many hours on the computer, I repeat many of the same techniques often. I find it is easy to become a bit smug as I whip through the technology tasks I assign myself. That is until I experience a week like this past one. Yes, you guessed it. It was filled with complexity.

I was preparing a high tech presentation for a computer user’s group, using a program that is unfamiliar. I gave the presentation on Thursday night, and it went well. Then a member of their group gave a presentation that I found was filled with so much complexity for me, I can’t begin to give you a slim idea of what it was all about.

And, that wasn’t enough. Since then, I have been grappling with updating a local website – already complex – using a new, updated program that used to be familiar and fun to use. Now it is the epitome of complexity and mystery.

The positives of all of this complexity are that I am learning new techniques, along with giving myself many big “pats on the back” when I successfully jump another hurdle. It has also made me love Yoga even more for helping to keep me calm throughout.

I didn’t find a huge number of complexity quotations, but I love the ones I did. Here are some of them:

• “Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.” - Edwin Way Teale, American naturalist, photographer and writer
• “The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity.” - Douglas Horton, American clergyman
• “It doesn't matter how much you want. What really matters is how much you want it. The extent and complexity of the problem does not matter was much as does the willingness to solve it.” - Ralph Marston, American athlete
• “Dealing with complexity is an inefficient and unnecessary waste of time, attention and mental energy. There is never any justification for things being complex when they could be simple.” - Edward de Bono, English psychologist
• “I don't really have preferred roles except those with some complexity.” - Richard Roxburgh, Australian actor
• “I have been interested in phenomena involving complexity, diversity and evolution since I was a young boy.” - Murray Gell-Mann, American physicist
• “The purpose of narrative is to present us with complexity and ambiguity.” - Scott Turow, American novelist

And just a couple more to think about:

“And so from that, I've always been fascinated with the idea that complexity can come out of such simplicity.” Will Wright, American scientist

“Everything from airplanes to kitchen blenders and even chopsticks comes with an instruction manual. Children, despite all their complexity, do not.” - Lawrence Kutner, American child psychologist

So, how do you deal with complexity? Let me hear about it.

Curious about Activity: How Much Do You Handle in a Day? Too Little or Too Much?

Definition of Activity: The state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility; vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; as, an increasing variety of human activities.

“All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.” - Calvin Coolidge, American President

“Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet

I chose “activity” for this blog’s theme, because I not only encourage those in my fitness classes to embrace activity, I am also passionate about it. The senior group fitness classes I teach – 12 a week – stress the importance of preparing for ADL. What is ADL, you ask. It stands for Activities of Daily Living.

And, it doesn’t just apply to seniors. We all desperately need action and activity.

In the words of American athlete, Bill Toomey, “Realize that from the start, every activity that comprises the journey has value and the ability to teach you something.”

So often, it is easy to turn on the TV for relaxation. To avoid taking action on a new program or going to the gym. I know that many people are frowning today on the word “busy.” However, being active and busy solves many of our problems. In the words of American writer, Paul Goodman, “Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.”

I found a plethora of great and insightful quotations:

• “Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.” - William Godwin, English writer
• “The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water.” - John W. Gardner, American educator
• “It takes great wit and interest and energy to be happy. The pursuit of happiness is a great activity. One must be open and alive. It is the greatest feat man has to accomplish.” - Robert Herrick, American poet
• “It's the journey toward doing these harder climbs that really gives value to the whole activity of climbing.” - Alex Lowe, American athlete
• “It makes no sense to worry about things you have no control over because there's nothing you can do about them, and why worry about things you do control? The activity of worrying keeps you immobilized.” - Wayne Dyer, American psychologist
• “I never could have achieved the success that I have without setting physical activity and health goals.” - Bonnie Blair, American athlete

And a couple more to chew upon and consider:

“My experience as a school nurse taught me that we need to make a concerted effort, all of us, to increase physical fitness activity among our children and to encourage all Americans to adopt a healthier diet that includes fruits and vegetables, but there is more.” - Lois Capps, American politician

“I like to use my hands and make things... It might seem pretty stupid or pointless but that doesn't matter... some of the most interesting work is the stuff that starts like that - out of a raw need for activity.” - Bruce Nauman, American sculptor

So, what activities do you pursue in your life, work, and community? It is never too late to start. Let me hear what you are experiencing.

Curious about Distraction(s): Our Lives Are Filled with Distractions. How Do You Deal with Yours?

Definition of Distraction : The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation. That which diverts attention; a diversion. A diversity of direction; detachment. State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity.

“You can always find a distraction if you're looking for one.” - Tom Kite, American athlete

Yes, in this fast paced world of today, with so much to learn, experience, and enjoy, there is no dearth of distractions. And, I feel that Tom Kite is totally correct about the ease of finding a distraction. Could it be that a distraction helps us procrastinate?

I also feel that those people – like myself – who have a plethora of interests and a deep curiosity about life, learning, and the new discoveries taking place daily, have to guard against being distracted on a regular basis. We can’t embrace every “bright shiny object” that comes our way. If we stop to try every new idea and strategy, we will find that we are always busy, but not accomplishing much – if anything.

The best advice I have received for dealing with – or avoiding – distractions is to set aside two hour blocks of time to work on the important project(s). Our brains can successfully function for two hours. Then we should take a short 15 minute break. Walk, drink some water, do some Yogic breathing, and then come back to the next two hours. You will be amazed by the number of tasks completed by the end of the day.

I did not find a huge number of quotations, but the ones I did find are extremely interesting:

• “I think there's always a call for people who are bucking the norm. But I don't expect it to happen now because I think that more than ever the entertainment industry is trying to serve as a distraction, to keep people from thinking too hard.” - Guy Picciotto, American musician
• “If there was a distraction I'd get up and jump out the window. I was quite out of hand. In schools like that I don't think they expect that girls are going to behave in such an outrageous fashion.” - Diane Cilento, Australian actress
• “It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies.” - Mark Lloyd, American public servant
• “Multi-tasking arises out of distraction itself.” - Marilyn vos Savant, American writer
• “I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” - Hilaire Belloc, English poet
• “Acclaim is a distraction.” - James Broughton, American director
• “Art is the fatal net which catches these strange moments on the wing like mysterious butterflies, fleeing the innocence and distraction of common men.” - Giorgio de Chirico, Greek artist

And, a couple more for fun:

“I think the best thing I can do is to be a distraction. A husband lives and breathes his work all day long. If he comes home to more table thumping, how can the poor man ever relax?” - Jackie Kennedy, American First Lady

“At painful times, when composition is impossible and reading is not enough, grammars and dictionaries are excellent for distraction.” - Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet

So, what are your biggest distractions and how do you deal with them? Let us hear from you.

Curious about Strategy: Do You Have One for Your Business, Life, and Marketing? How Important Is It for You?

Definition of Strategy: a careful plan or method; a clever stratagem; the art of devising or employing plans or stratagems toward a goal.
Definition of Tactics: the art or skill of employing available means to accomplish an end; a system or mode of procedure.

I have included both definitions, because I have found in articles and on CDs that there is a fine distinction between them, even though they do go hand in hand. Following are two interesting and partially informative quotations:

“Strategy is buying a bottle of fine wine when you take a lady out for dinner. Tactics is getting her to drink it.” - Frank Muir, English writer

“Strategy requires thought, tactics require observation.” - Max Euwe, Dutch celebrity

I chose strategy for this week’s blog because I have been working diligently on devising a new marketing strategy for my portfolio career. I have hooked up with two new mentors and several other gurus to accomplish this exciting task. Yes, you read that correctly. I am excited. Everything is moving so fast that I feel that we must keep taking a lot of action every day.

The French leader, Charles de Gaulle, was right when he said, “You have to be fast on your feet and adaptive or else a strategy is useless.”

As I pull together my list of tactics, I realize that I must take effective control of my time. The American writer Ted W. Engstrom is helpful, when he wrote, “What do you want to get done? In what order of importance? Over what period of time? What is the time available? What is the best strategy for application of time to projects for the most effective results?”

If we answer and apply every one of his questions, we will be on our way.

Some of the other strategy quotations that I found extremely helpful:

• “In marketing I've seen only one strategy that can't miss - and that is to market to your best customers first, your best prospects second and the rest of the world last.” - John Romero, American inventor
• “The strategy of my coach and me was that we looked at pictures of all the best pole vaulters from around the world, and we took the best parts from them, and we created a person that had never existed. We then started to work toward being such a person.” - Sergei Bubka, Ukrainian athlete
• “Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there.” – John P. Kotter, American educator
• “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” –
  Winston Churchill, English statesman
• “A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all.” - Michael LeBoeuf, American businessman
• “Finally, strategy must have continuity. It can't be constantly reinvented.” - Michael Porter, American educator

And, just a couple more for you to chew upon:

“If you look at the various strategies available for dealing with a new technology, sticking your head in the sand is not the most plausible strategy.” -Ralph Merkle, American scientist

“My whole career strategy has been to build a base so that I could take the roles I want to play. I'd hate to think that a shorter part might not be available because I was worried about my billing.” - Jack Nicholson, American actor

So, do you have a strategy in place that you are using successfully. I would love to hear your feedback.