Because it’s Friday AGAIN. And because traditions are important. In which I cover the good stuff and the hard stuff in my week, trying for the non-preachy, non-annoying side of self-reflection.
And you get to join in if you feel like it.
The hard stuff.
All the hard of this week happened while I was in Vancouver, where I spent half the week at Michael Port‘s Beyond Booked Solid seminar. The seminar was awesome. Incredibly so.
And I’d do it again in a second. It’s just that there was so much hard that came along with it.
Pain! Also in my body.
Ow! Brain pain brain pain.
I have insights pouring out of my ears right now. Total information overload, and there’s so much I want to start implementing that my gears are all spinning way too fast.
But even worse than my head overprocessing is when my body is underprocessing.
Sitting in a chair for nine hours makes me batty. BATTY! I didn’t know that.
Seriously, I’d never realized how often during my workday I stop to do mini-stretches or a bit of yoga or five minutes of Dance of Shiva. Not to mention my busy cat-napping routine and all the days that I decide it will be more fun to just work in bed.
All that excruciating sitting sitting sitting convinced me that working in a chair is a terrible way to go through life.
You know, my ex didn’t sit on a chair until he was six … because his father believed (and perhaps still does) that “chairs do bad things to human beings”, and didn’t allow them in the house.
Admittedly I always thought his father was mad as the proverbial hatter (what’s a hatter?). Have now officially changed my mind.
Loneliness is not having anyone to relate to.
The other twenty one people in the program were all very, very sweet and completely pleasant to be around.
At the same time, this was the longest amount of time I’ve ever spent with people who come from the corporate world, even if they’re no longer in it, and I totally felt like an outsider from planet wacky.
I’m used to being around people who don’t think it’s at all weird that I would bring a duck to a marketing seminar (c’mon, she’s my business partner) or that I actually am my fabulous quirky authentic self all the time and not just, you know, in the privacy of my own home or whatever.
So that was interesting. Selma hated it, and I just focused on finding the people I figured would be the most fun or the least not fun or something.
And tried to remember that there are people in the world for whom say … my chakra-based filing system is both shocking and bizarre. And that so what? It’s a big world.
I missed my sweetie.
Yes, well. It turns out that three and a half days without my gentleman friend is really way too long. Next time I’ll just fly him up with me. Or ferry. Or whatever.
It would be so worth it just to be able to sneak even little tiny doses of his smart, funny, loving awesomeness.
Now I’m back and can’t focus on anything because of being too distracted by how ridiculously perfect for me he is. Even Selma likes him.
The good-but-hard stuff.
No one is happy for my rockstar blog yet. Sadface.
Okay, so my blog’s Alexa ranking went down to 176,692.
Yes, I know. This is a good thing. A VERY good thing. So really it should not be in “the hard” or even in this fake in-between category that I just made up, and I might really have to also put it in “the good” where it actually belongs.
And if you’re up on Alexa rankings you’re either thinking Yay, Havi and Selma! Or you’re jealous as hell and you hate us for it. But you get it.
If you’re not — and most people aren’t — you really, really couldn’t care less.
Basically this is the equivalent of finding out you just won a million dollars and then remembering you live in a country where no one knows or cares what money is.
So I’m insanely happy and have like, maybe three people I know who can be happy for me.
I’ve great news, I want to share it, no one cares. Ugh.
The good stuff.
This week was all about good stuff.
My sweet Jane.
The whole Beyond Booked Solid seminar thing was actually kind of a ruse so I could go visit my friend Jane whom I love and adore.
This was only the third time we’ve seen each other in the last fifteen years, and one was her wedding, which doesn’t really count. She’s just one of my favorite people in the world, and I wish she had a website so I could amaze you with her overwhelming fabulousness.
Dream come true? OMG yes.
I’m almost afraid to type this because it’s so ridiculously cool that I’m going to have to cry, but here’s my big news.
The amazing Jennifer Louden actually wants me to teach my Emergency Calming Techniques and my wacky yoga brain training work at her super-famous Writer’s Retreat Spa thing in Taos, New Mexico this summer.
Now called the Luscious, Nurturing Get Your Writing Done while Laughing Your Butt Off and Maybe Crying a Little Too Writer’s Retreat.
You’ll hear more about this as it gets closer, but let’s just say that this is a heart-wish of mine that is up and come to life.
Jen is an incredible person, and not just because she’s been on Oprah, written a gazillion books, and helped thousands and thousands of people do wonderful work on themselves. She’s bright and caring and inspired, and I really don’t have a good way to explain how special she is — so just take my word for it.
!!!!!!!!!
My new catchphrase!
The real star of my trip to Vancouver was a new cafe to add to my favorite-cafes-around-the-world list.
You’ll read about it more this coming week, as I’ve already written a post that features it in the starring role, but the highlight of my week was when I stumbled in, tired and cranky after a long day of seminar-izing.
The owner (cute, middle-aged Italian man) gave me the biggest grin ever and sang out, “Are you having a glorrrrrrrrrious day?”
It’s even better in an Italian accent. And the truth is, you cannot maintain any sort of bad mood when someone asks you if you are having a glorrrrrrrrrrious day. You absolutely have to crack up laughing and admit that if you weren’t before, you certainly are now.
Of course (as my clients and the poor people in the Non-Icky self-promotion for people who hate self-promotion course know), now I cannot stop saying this to anyone and everyone.
In a disastrous imitation of an Italian accent. And then giggling uncontrollably.
That’s it for me ….
And yes, absolutely join in my Friday ritual if you feel like it and/or there’s something you just want to say out loud too.
Yeah? What was something hard and/or good that happened in your week?
And of course: will you have a glorrrrrrrrrrrrious weekend? I wish it for you. And a glorrrrrrrrrrious week to come.
Ooh, wait, I have a QUESTION!
My designer is making me a graphic for this Friday ritual post thing. So do we want to keep calling it the RoundUp (hmm, cowboy theme?) or do we want this to be the (um, chicken theme?) Weekly Check-in?
Whaddya think?
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That’s an awesomely incredible Alexa rating, omg!! Wow!! Good for you and Selma!! (:
I’m certainly having a more glorrrrrrrrrious day, now. Thanks, Havi.
Have an awesome weekend!! (:
Great post, welcome back.
Turning PAIN to gain: consider teaching a workshop for people who give seminars on how to lead business-wear-appropriate body-breaks throughout their loooong sessions. Wins all around.
Great new way to define LONELINESS; bet you got some good post material though.
Missing SWEETE — goes in the ‘good’ section, now doesn’t’ it? Had a good outcome…
True friends, big dreams, new grin-making catchphrases — all great.
Re: the Graphic for Friday… maybe along the lines of “all my ducks in a row”? Friday Line-up?
(I’m picturing you viewing your good and bad suspects in a police line-up through a one-way mirror… although you don’t look comfortable around that type of authority figure, so maybe never mind that image.)
WOW, now that you taught me about Alexa Ratings, I’m mucho impressed and feeling special for just knowing you! *grin
I’ve been having a day that could be construed as hard, but it’s not bothering me as much as I thought it would (or could), so I have to say that while not totally glorrrrrious, it’s certainly on the positive side of neutral. Have a great weekend, maybe we’ll see you. Love, D
@Kyeli – Thank you! Woo hoo! Bumping it up to at least four people who are overjoyed with me. Yay.
@GirlPie – Mz GirlPie!!! How the heck are you, sweetheart? Is your mad hibernation over?
Love the idea for the workshop … could be fun. I could really take all the material from a program I used to teach called Calm on the Go, which was about doing stretches/yoga/self-care while traveling. Hmmm … should repurpose some of that anyway, it’s a shame to just have it gathering dust.
@Dana the Spicy Princess – Right on. The positive side of neutral is pretty great too — no pressure to have it be glorrrrrrious.
I’m all for neutral. And the positive side of neutral. And the glorrrrrriously non-neutral. As long as there’s something to keep the hard company …
Good luck with the rest of today.
LOVE ‘Calm on the Go’ — very cool premise, WAY needed and career-gals’ll eat it up. Then we’ll have happier people-on-the-go. It’s none of my beeswax, but really: do that.
I’m with GirlPie on this. I come from the corporate world. I used to work in marketing and did lots and lots and lots of trade shows. (I’ve also done lots and lots and lots of training sessions.) A lot of the time, even when they’re “corporate”, people really hate these things….and it wreaks havoc on the body. (And you might be surprised how many of them do yoga or at least have some sort of ‘physical practice’ and get some of those benefits whether they consciously recognize it or not.)
Also….just a little tidbit for the cross-over between corporate and yoga (and the like)….I’ve been trained at Toyota and over-saw developing a year-long training program based on the Toyota Production System for a company I used to work for. Toyota, it turns out, encourages their employees to stretch prior to their shift….and at various times throughout their shift. Because….you know….they get it. 😉
So if that touches your heart in some way to do this type of work? They’re would totally be space for it out there in the world. No doubt.
As for the graphic…..how about some sort of routine/tradition that a duck does? Something with a good back-story attached to it. “Hey! Did you know ducks do THIS regularly? And do you know why?” Run with the duck them. Totally.
That’s my two cents anyway.
And thanks for linking to Michael Port and all! Wow! He rocks, huh? (Like you do.)
All the best!
deb
p.s. Did you know that I just get really really happy when I see your blog pop up on my RSS feed? I just can’t wait to click it and see what you have to say! Have a great weekend!
How about the Friday “What’s up Duck?”
As someone who spends waaayyy too much time sitting, and doesn’t travel well, love the “Calm on the Go” idea – or a workshop on how to survive sitting through a day of meetings!
Hard stuff this week – going to the city with a teenager who needed wisdom-teeth removal. Good stuff – same trip to city means chance to buy more art supplies to play with.
I’m having a pretty glorrrrrrrrrious day! Because I slacked off with my sweetie and it was great.
And I have officially registered my new business name. Woo hoo, it’s real.
You simply *have* to tell me where that cafe is so I can check it out. And tell me what the heck the Alexa Rating is so I can be insanely happy for you.
Vancouver is a bit grayer now that you’ve left it Havi.
Cheers. 🙂
Just so y’all don’t think I’m a big huge liar, Alexa just went up again so it’s no longer the gloriously (sorry, glorrrrrriously low number I gave you). Oh, the fickle love. I guess I won’t leave my gentleman friend for you, Alexa you inconstant slut.
Where’s that post I wrote about releasing the need for outside legitimacy? I should reread that.
Anyway …
@Karen – Yay! That is all good news.
@Deb – Wow, food for thought indeed. Thank you for that. That’s super interesting. And yeah, we were talking about Toyota all week since MP is obsessed with them. Very cool.
I can help out on the origins of “mad as a hatter”. You know about the Alice in Wonderland reference, right? And at that time (what is it? 19th century) they used a lot of funky chemicals to make hats (hatter: makes hats, I think; though so does millener). And the hats kind of made people who breathed them all day a bit nuts, hence mad (which is an English word for crazy)
That sitting all day thing has got to be a pita for more than just you. And some folks learn better when moving so maybe there is more than just a Calm on the Go thing needed. Maybe ideas for running that kind of workshop in a more kinesthetic way.
JoVEs last blog post..not that planners aren’t useful…
Oh Havi, thanks for the shout out and LOVE the corporate idea… and LOVE Alexa rating for you (Mark told me) although I barely knew what it was, I did know it was COOL.
So loving your work – listened to Emergency Calming today and had a big good cry.
The workshop in New Mexico sounds like a great experience. Sounds like something I could use. I checked out Jennifer’s website and it sounds like it’s only for women. If they ever do a co-ed or man’s version let me know.
Oh yeah…definitely the cowboy theme. I’m from Texas. I’m a transplant, but have come to enjoy the cowboy theme.
Karl – Work Happy Nows last blog post..Does Luck Play a Role at Your Job?
I am now considering getting rid of all the chairs in my house.
Way cool on the Alexa thingy! In a week of otherwise alarming downward trends, your good news is…GOOD NEWS!
And the news about the writer’s retreat w/Jennifer Louden is EVEN GOOD(er) NEWS!!!
Re the roundup thingy — neither you nor Thelma strike me as being particularly giddy-up-ish, so the rodeo theme seems kind of odd.
This thing you do on Fridays seems more like an omnibus kind of thing. (Look it up, you’ll see what I mean.)
(OK, to help you look it up — here’s something from Wikipedia: “Omnibus, in which data on a wide variety of subjects is collected during the same interview…”)
A fantastic, psychedelic, duck-flavored technicolor omnibus…
I wonder what your designer could do with something like THAT?
Oh dear. Pleathe pardon my lithp. I meant to type Selma, not Thelma.
What does Selma think the design might be? I’ll bet she has great ideas!