February 25, 2010 - 9:39 am
Have you heard? sfgirlbybay’s Blog It Forward event has reached VictoriaKlein.net! It’s a connected stream of blogger posts – like a chain letter, only not obnoxious. For the first round (will there be another?), 300 bloggers have been asked one simple question:
“What inspires you personally?”
I could easily write a series of blog posts on this subject, but for now, one entry will have to do. I’ll try to keep it short and sweet (but no guarantees):
My Mum, Bev: (lots of love for today, your surgery day!)
[Image taken by Minyan Zhu on my wedding day]
My Dad, Harold (R.I.P.):
My Husband, Logan:
[Image taken by Minyan Zhu on our wedding day]
My Cat, Monster:
Yoga: What’s there to say? I’ve written my first non-fiction book about yoga. I’ve practiced for over 5 years, helping to overcome my clinical depression and social anxiety. I am a different person because of my yoga experience. I’m happier, I’m healthier, I’m sane.
Food: A big plate of pasta. A warm chocolate cupcake. A succulent apple. Food is life. It can inspire us all. (I also have a thing for carbs … but who doesn’t!?)
Moving Water: The sound is enough to pacify me. The feel is enough to soothe me. Like food, water is life & while simple, it has a powerful effect on our species, our planet, and me personally. Even as snow, water can enchant me for hours.
San Francisco, Chicago, Sweden, Austria: I have a “thing” for visiting and/or living in new places. These four particular places have always brought out happiness in me (though I haven’t even visited Sweden yet).
The Ability to Express Myself: It’s a freedom not everyone has. It’s a feeling not everyone can share. Whether I’m a model, photographer, writer, editor, blogger, knitter, cook – I’m infinitely thankful to be able to share the emotions and experiences of my life with others, in an effort to improve their lives.
There are more – oh yes! Just a few: magazines, non-fiction books, tea, sunlight, long walks, smiles, paper goods, countless blogs, Apolo Ohno, psychology, living spaces, Europe in general, nature in general … I should stop now … but the overall point is that inspiration can come from anywhere or anyone. Embrace every experience and opportunity.
Hearty thanks go to Vexhext for introducing me yesterday & good vibes to Vintage Girlfriend, tomorrow’s “forward blogger” in group #10. Visit the full Blog it Forward mashup schedule for all the folks who’ve posted thus far & those yet to come.
Last but certainly not least, thanks again to (a fellow) Victoria for developing the Blog it Forward idea & taking on the challenge of organizing it. Can’t wait for the next one!
[All images taken by Victoria Klein, unless noted]
December 17, 2009 - 10:12 am
There are literally hundreds of other blog post ideas waiting for me to write about. The one post I’ve been meaning to write is also the one I’ve been consciously avoiding. This post.
In September, I announced that my husband had decided to join the Marines. We’d been talking about it for months, but by September, I finally agreed to join him on-base during his military career. Now it’s official.
Two weeks ago, he took his mental & physical tests. He passed with flying colors and, therefore, signed his contract with the Marines. He also received his ship-out date for boot-camp: June 1st, 2010.
By this time next year, my husband may have already shipped out to a foreign country. With just 7 months left (technically, 6.5) to enjoy his company, this holiday season has become all the more special. He will be at boot-camp during both of our birthdays next year (June 11th & July 7th, respectively), but we will have the pleasure of sharing our 1-year wedding anniversary together (May 12th). We also plan on taking our honeymoon during the last week of May, right before he leaves for 3 months of physical & mental challenges in South Carolina.
As an Eastern spiritualist, I believe that every element is part of one whole. You can’t have smiles without tears. You can’t have sunshine without rain. You can’t have peace without war. A bit of yin & yang, if you will. I have my own theories has to how we could have more peace on planet Earth, but I’m not naive enough to think that the human race could suddenly cease fighting permanently … at least not anytime within the next few hundred years.
While I have a bit of faith left in humanity, we must remember that we are not that far removed from our cave-dwelling ancestors. Our biology still runs on fight-or-flight, live-or-die responses, & having conflict with those different from us is a natural part of that. Can we advance as a species to change this simple fact? Of course, but that takes time, & science can’t (safely) rush that.
Do we all have to fight every day? No, but we can’t be ignore that some of our fundamental differences can seriously impede the happiness & success of others. I don’t agree with what we are doing in the Middle East, but I do support my husband’s choice to defend his family & the country that he calls home.
Whether you agree with our current international conflicts, please please remember that these men & women are sacrificing their very lives to help us citizens keep our jobs, homes, & freedoms. Say a heartfelt “thank you” to the next military person you see. You don’t have to agree with their methods to appreciate how their hard work affects your daily life.
Final note: I know that the military is a sensitive subject for many. Please be respective & decent when you choose to comment on this post. The golden rule still applies – if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
October 15, 2009 - 10:16 am
How do you write about a concept as massive and complex as climate change? It’s the little things that matter the most, so let’s break down what exactly we’re talking about here:
Climate = the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.
Change = to become different, altered, or modified.
Climate is a very basic concept. Climate is rain, wind, sun, rain … you know, what meteorologists talk about. Change is also very basic, but people have a much harder time understanding or adapting to it.
The climate naturally changes and our planet naturally goes through times of warming and cooling. Our current problem is that our planet’s climate is changing faster than is normally does. The science is there in black & white – we’re experiencing one of the most rapid changes in climate in the 4.5-billion-year history of our planet.
So why do we deny climate change is happening? Why do we deny the fact that humans are the only species capable of creating such change? The answer is within the problem itself: change. Our culture fears change, both rapidly & over long periods of time. Being flexible and adaptable is not something many of us are taught.
While our music, fashion, and technology grows at hurried rates, we depend on certain elements of our life to remain steady. Those things that we’ve come to trust and depend on are now changing – thanks to climate change – and it is rocking our world: food, water, the seasons.
It’s time to stop fighting, stop lying, stop denying. Our climate is changing, we are the cause, and only we can change it for the better. Every small step leads to big differences in our government, culture, society, and overall well-being. Don’t over-analyze, don’t seek perfection, don’t compete – just start. Each journey beings with one step and now is the time to take it.
Accept climate change
Be NICE
Help the planet
———–
This post is proud part of Blog Action Day 2009.
[Image taken by Victoria Klein]
September 28, 2009 - 2:22 pm
I used to be a traveler. San Antonio, Chicago, North Carolina, Italy, Austria, Germany – you name it. Just tell me the dates & I’d have my bags packed.
Abruptly, that all changed. Maybe it was events on 9/11. Maybe it was my social anxiety. Maybe it was my burgeoning fear of trust. No matter the cause, getting on a plane or train soon became an intense test of my sanity and patience. Oddly enough, my passion for relocating has never ceased … until recently.
Even before moving back to Connecticut in January 2009, my husband (fiance at the time) & I were looking into the possibility of buying our first house. As an apartment renter for almost a decade, the idea of owning a space that was truly my own – to decorate & remodel at my whim – was exhilarating. Two main problems prohibited us from moving forward:
1) Not enough money (that’s a big enough issue, no?)
2) I didn’t want to buy a house in Connecticut
We moved back to Connecticut so I could be close to my mum, who is one of my few family members that still lives. Being so close to her for nearly 9 months has been pure joy – we cook, garden, visit farmers’ markets, go on walks … all the fun stuff. It’s been like having your best friend just a few minutes away. But I don’t want to settle here.
The only reason I am in Connecticut is because my mother is here. It’s a great state – don’t get me wrong - but it still doesn’t feel right for me. I’ve spent over 1/4th of my life moving from city to city, state to state, but I’ve never found a place that feels like home … though a few have come close: Chicago, North Carolina, and Vienna, Austria. I’ve never been one to want a lot of “stuff”, so the idea of having a house in a state that required you to have a car (more stuff!) didn’t jive with me.
Then, as the only thing expected in life, another change happened. I read “Grounded Traveler” – a small, half-page piece by writer Amelia Glynn in the August 2009 issue of Yoga Journal Magazine. The last paragraph is what struck me the most:
Change had changed me. For the first time, I realized real estate wasn’t the answer. Without a physical place or the stuff to fill it, each day I returned to me. I was the constant. I was the comfort. I was home.
Do I like houses? Yes. Do I need a house? No. Do I like interior design? Yes. Do I need to spend money designing my own space? No. Will I ever find a place where I feel I belong? Maybe. Do I need to? No.
What does this all mean? It means another big change is coming up for me. My husband is joining the Marines next year and, after months of hemming and hawing, crying and arguing, I’ve decided to go with him. I will soon be a military wife, living on-base. This is something that he wants to do & while I don’t support all of the military’s actions, he’s given it a lot of thought and decided it is what is best for him and us. I wouldn’t be able to give our relationship the full commitment it deserves if I’m not there with him while he takes on this immense experience.
My husband will be joining the Marines before I can follow him, as I am in the middle of completing a 2-year college degree. Once I’m finished in 2011 (and he’s completed all his training), I and our 2 cats will be joining him on-base. I’m scared but also intrigued. Fear is not going to rule my life. I will still continue my professional writing and photography, and this blog will eventually feature some of the unique adventures I’ll be blessed to have.
This is big. This is huge. This is mega-uber-bunka-bustin’-humongous. It will be a perfect chance for me to expand my knowledge and indulge my curiosities, all while still enjoying the comforts of “home.” I will miss my mum immensely, though I know she will jump at every chance she has to visit. Though the thought brings tears to my eyes, I know she will one day be gone (just like dad, R.I.P.) & I can’t wait until then to start forging my own path.
The moral of this story: People matter more than places or possessions (cars & houses to cell phones & TVs), but there’s always a happy medium.
August 13, 2009 - 10:45 am
Can money buy happiness?
Along with “What’s the sound of one hand clapping?” and “Why do they report power outages on TV?”, the correlation between money & happiness is a mystery many of us ponder.
According to Brett Graff and her article in the July 2009 issue of Good Housekeeping – yes, happiness can be bought, and for cheap!
Before this goes too far, let me assure you that I in no way think you can literally buy happiness, and neither does Brett. “The golden rule: devote your dollars to things that further your goals and beliefs.”
The gist of the article is that what or who you spend you money is more important than how much you spend. To make it even simpler, “one great way to invest in happiness: focus on doing rather than owning.”
As a 20-something looking to make something of herself, money is not plethoric – in fact, my credit card companies probably wish I had a lot more of it to give to them. I tried to buy happiness for years. It’s not for sale. Reading this article was a great joy & a fantastic reminder that making time to do what you love is far more important than any big house, flashy car, brand-name purse, or massive diamond ring.
Life isn’t about stuff … it’s about life and truly living it. The human experience is a unique one and we shouldn’t waste any extra time bulking up our bank accounts if we are going to waste the money on needless material obsessions. Would I like a new pair of jeans? Yes, and one of those sweaters I’ve always liked … but I’m still happy without them, and I bet you can be too.
The things I own that have value are such because I add value to them. Their history makes me smile, not how much I paid for them: furniture my family brought over from Germany and Sweden; the scarf I knitted for my husband; the muffins my mum and I made together; the custom-designed print Tara made for my wedding. The only value our objects have are the value we place upon them. Just because some is new, “it”, or made in a far away land from some fancy fabric, doesn’t give it value … only you do.
July 8, 2009 - 10:03 am
The world of nutrition is a joke. I’m going to piss a lot of people off with that statement, but come on – first carbs are good, then they’d bad. Then fat is good, then it’s bad, now only some fats are good and some fats are bad … this is messed up!
People want solid answers. Just like the world of science, true nutrition is something that we do not fully understand, and probably won’t anytime soon. We simply can’t offer the world 100% assured advice … except for this: “whole” (non-processed) foods good; processed foods not so good, but eating a few isn’t the end of the world.
It all runs on fear. You can’t scare people out of eating dessert … but it may work with McDonald’s 
Ode Magazine’s Fat Is Where It’s At article (June/July 2009 issue) by Janet Paskin was nothing short of spectacular. Here are a few particular gems I enjoyed:
Our myopic aversion to fat may be doing more damage than an order of steak frites ever could. In our effort to avoid the demon lipids at all costs, we’re forever tinkering with our diets—substituting Snackwells for Oreos, dry toast and a glass of orange juice for a plate of bacon and eggs—in hopes it will keep us skinny almost effortlessly. But these dietary contortions often have unintended consequences. They inspire us to eat more food, for starters. And the food we eat more of? It contains more chemicals, starches and sugar. These ingredients “are more harmful than the much-feared animal fats,” says Irina Baumbach, secretary of the Association for Nutritional Medicine and Dietetics in Aachen, Germany.
and
Fat—on the plate or the hips—didn’t trigger health concerns until the late 20th century. As recently as the 1970s, dietary guidelines included plenty of fats and protein, because they helped people feel sated, preventing overeating. And obesity wasn’t considered a serious problem in Europe or the U.S.; high-carbohydrate meals were associated with weight gain, and academic articles linked obesity in Africa and the Caribbean with starchy diets.
and
As for the connection between fatty foods and weight, it’s controversial as well. Obesity was never the target of Congress’ efforts, although the low-fat recommendations were instituted to help people manage their weight. They haven’t. Since the guidelines were adopted, Americans have indisputably gotten fatter. “In the early 1990s, we ate low-fat everything and we didn’t get thinner,” says Alice Lichtenstein, a professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Massachusetts. “There’s your proof.”
I’ve got at least 6 other sections of the article highlighted, but you really should just read the article yourself. 
The simple truth is that we don’t know everything there is to know about how our bodies function. We should wait another few decades before we start putting lab-created “foods” (using that word is being quite generous) into them. I think we are doing permanent damage that we can’t even fathom yet.
As with all other things in life, keep your diet simple – it will save you a lot of headaches now & in the long run (both literally and figuratively). If you want a cookie, have it (not 20!) & think about how you can get active to burn it off. Usually, it’s the simple things that escape us.
June 23, 2009 - 10:47 am
When was the last time you breezed through a project or household chore? Do you even remember doing it? Were you only focused on getting it done, assuming that, since you’ve done it before, you’d do well?
Interestingly titled Be All You Can Be (remind you of the Army?), a blurb on page 20 of Yoga Journal Magazine’s June 2009 issue focuses on just this subject. Written by Founder & Co-Director of San Francisco’s Healing Yoga Foundation, Kate Holcombe, the half-page piece is about a particular passage from the Yoga Sutra describing the concept of Ishvara pranidhana (nonattachment to the fruits of one’s actions).
The concept is quite simple, but nevertheless difficult to accomplish by most: do you best 100% of the time and embrace the effort you put into each moment of your day.
Patanjali [author of the Yoga Sutra] advises us to focus on the quality of an act, rather than on its outcome, leaving the “fruits” of our actions to something greater. From this perspective, everything we do becomes an opportunity for practice: We do the very best we can, whether we’re running a race, giving a big presentation, or doing the dishes. Regardless of the outcome, the mind is calm, clear, and present because our joy comes from the act itself, rather than the result.
Such wonderful words. Thanks to Kate, I’ve never been more inspired to do the dishes … mindfully.
I’m often guilty of doing too many things at once, and sometimes sacrificing the quality and pleasure of work as a result. It’s time to slow down. Filling our lives with list after list of to-dos will never make us happy or content.
That’s not to say that we shouldn’t work. I’m not suggesting that you give up all your worldly posession and move to a mountaintop to meditate. But how about taking a long, hard look at your to-do list. Do you really need to do everything on there? Is it going to make your life better, simplier, happier? If not, why is it there? Talk about a serious waste of time, money, and energy!
June 10, 2009 - 8:34 pm
I was born in 1984. I will be 25 tomorrow. My first e-mail account was with AOL when I was in middle school, when I also had my first pager. I used an original Apple computer to play Oregon Trail in 5th grade (I always died in less than a week). As a kindergartner, my friends and I read books & played outside – computers weren’t available commercially.
The evolution of electronic communication is simply dumbfounding. Our humans minds are in no way ready to process the immense amount of information we receive daily. Personally I find the manipulation of our emotions, or lack of emotions period, the most disturbing factor of all.
In less than one generation, the entire world has changed in ways we can’t even fathom yet. We should treat people online the same way we would if they were standing right in front of us. We can’t hide behind our monitors and expect success to come to us. We have to walk. We have to talk. We have to act.
Readers of my old blog will remember that I’ve openly written about my struggle with clinical depression and social anxiety before. I still battle these issues daily, especially now that I am no longer on medication for them. Hiding behind my laptop is something I’m very familiar with, but things have to change. Though I can’t escape the reality of how business is done these days, no one can depend on the internet world to replace genuine face-to-face interactions.
Let us not discount the pleasure of sharing a pot of tea & hearty conversation together – in person.
[This post was inspired by Holly Becker's emotive interview on Simply Hue.]
