noticing the little things

Over the past year or so (and maybe even longer than that), I’ve gotten into a bad habit of doing other things while eating a meal. Breakfast is always a quick smoothie I can consume while getting ready for work. I eat lunch at my desk (while continuing to work) most days and dinners are spent in front of Hulu or a book or magazine. I barely notice the food, which seems to be a weird practice, since I enjoy cooking it so much.

So now I’m seeking to return to food awareness and put my full focus on the meal in front of me. No distractions. For today’s 31 Days of Adventure, I took the opportunity to practice this by noticing the little things while eating lunch today. I closed my eyes. I chewed slowly. I found there was a lot to notice while eating this tasty salad:

So much kale and cabbage goodness mixed in with a tangy sweet homemade dressing! Each bite was a little different than the one before. Some came with the leafy texture of kale, some with a bit more onion, some with a salty pumpkin seed punch that seemed to accentuate all the other flavors. I was really surprised at how intense the flavors and textures were when I really paid attention.

Next I enjoyed a slice of 5-year aged cheddar from the great state o’ Wisconsin:

Again, an intense flavor experience. Far more than I remember before.

I’m going to have to eat with this much attention more often.

This post is part of the 31 Days of Adventure. Follow the prompts here or at #31adventures.

31 days of adventure

My friend Amy at Expand Outdoors and I have crafted a fun thing for the new year: 31 Days of Adventure. It spawned over the idea that adventure happens every day, you just have to look for it or seek to create it . We don’t need epic trips to the backcountry, skydiving or similar to feel a sense of adventure (although those things certainly do it). That’s one of the things I’ve learned on the road trip and I try to incorporate into my every day and on this blog: adventure is everywhere, small and big.

So, every day in the month of January, we’ll send out daily adventures on the 31 Days of Adventure site and through our newsletter. These adventures are free, easy enough to incorporate into your day and do right in your backyard (or around the neighborhood). We hope they’ll inspire you to carry adventure with you throughout the rest of the year. Hope you’ll join us!

think kit: my hidden spot

This is one of my favorite places to sit and think, my own little hidden spot, tucked away in the city. See that rock on the left? I like to sit right there, feet in the water, and think.

Isabel loves to frolic in the water while I think, so it’s a great spot for both us.

This post is part of Think Kit 2011.

things you find along a new path

I’ve noticed that since the early summer, I’ve gotten out of the habit of biking or walking to work. This is an absolutely ridiculous thing to have happen because I live a mere 1.5 miles from work, so it’s a snap to hop on my bike or shimmy down the street. I could go on with a list of excuses, but suffice to say that I’m working to change back into a non-car commuter. So this past week things worked out and I walked to work on a frosty morning, which was ever so delightful because it gave me a chance to slow down and view things from a different perspective. I got to take an up close and personal view of this guy:

And this guy!

And these little ones!

And a frosty hedge!

I mean, do you see how the light is hitting that hedge? And imagine some glittery frost business with that? Unbelievable. I would have totally missed out on this if I had traveled by car. (And even by bike, most likely. I’m usually eyes forward.)

Last, as I neared my destination, I found a frosty rose bush that looked so beautiful, shimmering.

It was a great way to get to work and it really put a smile on my face. It was a much nicer way to start the day than to be scraping frost off my car and waiting for the light to turn green.

How are you getting to work this week? What little things are you noticing?

the think kit

We’ve just launched a fun thing over at SmallBox called The Think Kit, which is an inspiration kit in the form of  30 days of prompts that help you reflect on your year and consider what’s next. The Think Kit prompts start today, and the first one is so easy, I couldn’t resist sharing.

Prompt: Have a snapshot that encapsulates your year? Or one that represents a great moment? Maybe it just looks dang cool. Show ‘n tell time — let’s see those pics!

This would be my favorite photo of this year:

It’s not a perfectly composited and shot photo in any sort of professional photography sense (in fact, it’s a little blurry), however, this photo encapsulates so much for me. It was taken in one of my favorite spots in Indianapolis, a place of peace and rejuvenation. It is a visual representation of the spirit and the attitude I have focused on embodying this year: letting things flow like water. Paying attention to that flow and getting to know the feeling better. This photo is a gentle reminder.

Want to participate in Think Kit? Head on over here to get started!