Congratulations for the state of Ohio & its governor, Ted Strickland, for embracing change.

Over the next 2 years, Ohio will be building the United States’ first off-shore wind farm in fresh water – more specifically, in Lake Erie. Current plans include 5 wind turbines, which will generate at least 20 megawatts of power by 2012; enough to power 7,000 homes year-around. The turbines will be built 6 miles off the shores of Cleveland, Ohio, north of the Cleveland Browns football stadium.

After reading the news a few days ago, I told my mum about it. We lived together in the Cleveland area for near 4 years & still retain fondness for Ohio. She was elated. We went on to discuss similar off-shore projects that have hit major snags, like the proposed wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts. Common arguments against wind farms: loss of tourism money, noise pollution, & they’re eyesores. I say: bullshit; you’re afraid of change. Mum agrees: “Things have always changed, and they will continue to change. You can’t fear the change; it’s going to happen with or without you.”

With disdain in her voice, my mum continued, “50 years ago, telephone & electricity lines used to be wrapped around poles that ran up & down every street. No one said ‘Oh no, that’s ugly, don’t put those up – I’ll live without a phone or electricity.’ Why are people doing the same with wind turbines?” Amen, woman!

When Europeans arrived to formally settle what is now know as the United States, it looked nothing like it does today. We did that – we created that change. Why should we stop now? The ongoing needs & pollution-heavy realities of our energy system can not be denied any long – hello, Gulf of Mexico oil spill! We’ve used windmills to generate power for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Now, we are giving new life & versatility to an invention nearly forgotten.

Are wind turbines perfect? No – nothing is perfect, but the drawbacks are far less than those of oil, coal, or nuclear power. We are all living in a world of drastic change: socially, financially, and environmentally. Alternative energy IS our future; embrace it or get the f*ck off the planet – I’m sure Mars would be happy to take your in.

Irony worth pondering: have you noticed that middle America has begun embracing alternative energy methods (wind, solar … etc.) with little hesitation, while near-coastal states (with certain exceptions) do nothing but bitch & moan as they continue rack up more power usage than that of central states … why is that?

[Image courtesy of Martin Pettitt]

Much like Blog it Forward, Pin it Forward is a virtual chain letter of blog posts created by sfgirlbybay. This time, we’re taking advantage of the awesome website called Pinterest. Everyone who signed up to be a part of Pin it Forward creates their own inspiration board on the Pinterest website. The theme: what home means to you.

A whopping 300 bloggers signed up to be a part of Pinterest … and today is my day – literally! Along with being my day to post about Pin it Forward, today also happens to be my 26th birthday (and 100th for the phenomenal Jacques Cousteau).

So, let’s get down to it … what does home mean to me?

[Top row]

Yoga: Practicing for over 5 years now, I spend more time doing yoga at home than at a yoga studio. I hope to find a local yoga studio to frequent soon, but until then, my home practice sustains me well. (Photo: One of my favorite poses, Half Lord of the Fishes)

French Breakfast Puffs: They sound fancy, but are quite simple to make (thank you, Betty Crocker). In my family, we call’em Cinnamon Mini Muffins. My grandma & mum have made them for me since I was old enough to eat solid foods … maybe that’s why I love cinnamon & sugar so much. (Photo: The Pioneer Woman)

Family: My cat, Monster, has been with us just about as long as Logan & I have been together. Fast forward 6 years, Logan & I are married, and Monster is still a cuddly as ever. With my husband going to Marines boot camp in September, the combo of family & home means all the more. (Photo: yours truly, Victoria Klein)

[Middle row]

Kitchen Table: Call me old fashioned, but I prefer to eat a real table instead of in front of the TV or computer. I’m not talking about one of those fancy dining room decorations that never gets used. This is a table that is loved & worn, stained with the memories of many happy meals & celebrations. (Photo: Viva Terra)

My Office: Being a freelance writer, I spend most of my time working from home. I have a personal passion for office supplies, but being the only one in my office, I can’t justify buying boatloads (plus I loathe needless consumption). (Photo: EightHourDay)

Crafting: DIY rocks! My family has always been the do-it-yourself, be crafty type. I highly enjoy dabbling in numerous creative outlets, but cross-stitching is the first craft that my grandmother ever taught me. To this day, I still adore it & it reminds me of my younger days. (Photo: ChezSucreChez)

[Bottom row]

Owls: Along with deer & otters, owls are a common theme in my decorating choices. A close second to deer, owls are a favorite animal of mine – so silent yet so powerful. Plus, I watched a lot of Winnie the Pooh when I was a kid … (Photo: Bee Things)

Clean Water: Water is life & humans can’t live without it. Anywhere with clean water is home to me, though I know millions of people don’t have access to such a simple human need. (Photo: Charity Water)

Living Simply or Simply Living: Last but never ever least, living a simple life has been my goal for many years. So far, I think I’m doing well. I am insistent on practicing what I preach as a sustainable advocate. My favorite eco-choices: line drying clothes, bicycling everywhere, & shopping at farmers’ markets. (Photo: Nick Dewar)

Check out more of what home means to me on my Pin it Forward board on Pinterest.

A hearty thank you to Oh Gosh for her rockin’ post yesterday. Be sure to check out Je Voudrais Que on Monday for the next round of Pin it Forward!

Look up the word rationalize in the dictionary & you may be surprised by its meaning:

to ascribe (one’s acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes; to invent plausible explanations for acts, opinions, etc., that are actually based on other causes.

When we rationalize/over-think people, places, things, or events, we are just trying to make ourselves feel better. That’s it. There’s no silver lining – it’s a completely selfish act to try to save our own sanity & emotions. Like most human ability, rationalizing has a time & a place, but knowing exactly when & where that is can be tougher than you think.

An issue of Body+Soul Magazine (soon-to-be Whole Living Magazine) featured a great article on this subject, titled Get Out of Your Head by Terri Trespicio. Unfortunately, I can’t find a version of it online, but here are some great quotes:

If overthinking can actually change our preference for jam, could it also change our preferences for clothing, or housing, or even a life partner? Can rationalizing keep up from a life we’d rather have?

We’ve all talked ourselves into doing something (buying, eating, traveling, moving, taking a new job, dating someone) that, in the end, didn’t turn out to be so great anyway. No one is saying that we shouldn’t think at all, but with the overwhelming number of choices we have in just our daily lives (not including big, lifelong decisions!), it’s easy to see why our brain would be used to “powering on” all the time – even when we don’t really need it.

While reason calls on a combination of hard facts and common sense, rationalization is more like padding we use to cover the sharper, sometimes uncomfortable edges to make them more tolerable.

It is a fine line that we dance, choosing between the real world & the reality of our own perceptions. Reason is the real world, where our personal, professional, and financial obligations lie in black & white. Rationalization, on the other hand, is all in our minds, assigning emotions and excuses to adjust our comfort levels on subject that deserve honest attention.

I’m glad I didn’t get promoted; it would have been more work. (Rationalizing)

My credit card bill is due next week so I need to stay in Saturday night. (Reasoning)

Unfortunately, while their definitions are clearly different, reasoning & rationalizing coexist in our minds at all times.

How do we break out of the rationalization habit? Tap into the very emotions we think should be kept under wraps.  … It can be scary to open that proverbial can of worms, to acknowledge what’s nagging and pulling at you. But when you can, let your instincts do the very thing they’ve evolved to do: guide you in making wise decisions.

Emotions = bad, at least that is what most of our modern society has been teaching us. I personally ascribe to the “everything happens for a reason” mindset. If you feel something, that emotion deserves to be acknowledged, not overshadowed by rationalization. We may not always be able to completely turn a situation around in our favor, but we should consciously accept our instinctual reasoning & make an effort to steer ourselves in a healthier direction.

Emotions make us human. Denying them makes us beasts.

Don’t mask your true feelings with a veil of convenience.

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]

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.

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]

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.

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.

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.

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!