A Complete Life

Making the Most of the Commute Home

Have you ever been guilty of bringing that work stress home? Have you ever arrived at home still annoyed by that one coworker, or reeling from that meeting, or just overwhelmed by what you have to do? Have you snapped at a loved one as soon as you walked in the door?

I must confess...I certainly have. We already spend enough time at work: let's make the most of our time at home to relax, and be with our loved ones.

Here's how I do it: I make the commute work hard for me. Whether you walk, drive, or take public transportation, whether the commute is short or long, look out for those moments during the commute that really inspire you. For me, it's the sight of the San Francisco skyline shimmering in the distance as I stand on the BART platform. It's getting off the MUNI train in my neighborhood, breathing in the crisp, clear night air and watching the buildings and cars sparkle in the night. It's walking by my favorite restaurant, a haven of warmth and food that touches the soul.

But, maybe it's something else for you. Maybe it's the open road in front of you. Maybe it's that favorite song on the radio. Or maybe it's the sight of your daughter's bike in the front yard. No matter what it is, notice these moments, and remember them. They'll act like a warm shower and wash away the burdens of work.

Make these moments work even harder. Take a minute to pause, when you notice them. Take a few deep breaths. Smile to yourself like there's a secret joy only you know. Notice a passerby, and think, "You probably think I'm being silly, but I'm going home, Woo Hoo!".

And walk in the door ready to get a big hug.

I'm Baaaack!

After just a few months....okay, a few years, I'm back online!

I'm come back to share my journey in life, and what I'm learning about how to live with passion, relish and contentment.

How to become healthier and gain a sense of well-being...without depriving myself.
How to indulge in life...without regretting it later
How to appreciate the small things in life

...How to live juicy.

I can't wait to get started!

Why Cooking is Fun

So I was watching "The Next Food Network Star" and one thing they stress is, what is your "culinary point of view"? Are you "gourmet next door"? "Latin with a twist?" "30 Minute Meals?"

And suddenly it came to me....my "culinary point of view", what inspires me to cook. It's all about making the people I care about, my friends and family, feel special. It's not about showing off complex techniques or making "culinary art". It's about giving people a little gift that they'd enjoy. If I hear you like mochi, nothing's more rewarding than to figure out how to make it, and make it homemade just for you. It's about adding that little special touch that you wouldn't get from the store or restaurant, like fresh strawberries inside the mochi. It's about creating a meal just for you, like a scotch-pairing dinner for those aficionados I know.

So if I ever cook anything for you....you know where I'm coming from. I just hope you enjoy it, that's all.

Best Birthday Ever!

January, 2007, goes down in history as my best birthday ever. No, it's not a "special" birthday year. No new decades or half decades to celebrate. But the way my friends and family from all over went the extra mile...that's what really made me feel special, and thoroughly thankful for having such wonderful people in my life.

Celebrations lasted the whole month:

• My parents took me out for dinner at my favorite Sushi restaurant, Sam's in San Mateo
• Ted surprised me with drinks on top of the Marriott and dinner at Ame in SF. How did he know that I've been wanting to go to Ame for months?!
• My sister surprised me with the sweetest bouquet ever: a dozen chocolate covered strawberries. Yummmmm!
• My girlfriend planned a huge bash, including 20 of my best friends, a private room/nook at Umami, an AWESOME up-and-coming restaurant, and we danced the night away afterwards
• Ted (the man is a saint!) also planned a weekend ski trip with 15 of our closest friends. It means so much to me that people would be willing to take a whole weekend out of their lives to celebrate mine. What an honor!

You know, in the past, I would have felt like I shouldn't ask for so much for my birthday. But, you know what, allowing people to make a big deal out of your birthday doesn't feel as selfish as I thought it would. Instead, I felt like it made us closer friends. I guess, sometimes, accepting expressions of caring is just as important as giving them.

Cafe Vivoli

I recently found a great new lunch spot: good food, cheap, plenty of options...and a wonderful experience to boot.

It's an Italian lunch spot right in the middle of the Financial District. Being on a corner, it's got plenty of windows. Plus high ceilings, this makes it expansive and airy, not too noisy. (A good thing, given it's packed during lunchtime.)

The fare? Everything from huge slices of pizza and calazones to deli sandwiches to a huge salad bar and, my favorite, the freshly-made pastas. Yummm! Those of you who know my addiction to carbs can imagine how great it is to find the perfect source of lunchtime pasta! But wait, there's more....

For $6-7, you can order from over 30-40 different pasta dishes (I've tried the shrimp primavera and chicken and gorgonzola), and stand by the long window to watch the dance happen. The pasta is made on a long range of 16 burners, and it's so mesmerizing to watch the chefs work. They juggle up to 8 dishes at once, adding veggies, sauces and glorious meats, dousing their handiwork in wine, ladling in sauces, tossing in the pasta....

With two or three of them working at once, it's a miracle they don't constantly burn each other. Hot pans weave over and under arms, finished plates arrive 4-5 at a time...it's all a wonderful, captivating dance. This is not the chaotic, loud, angry, yelling kitchen that chefs warn about on TV. Like a sports team that's been together for years, they intuitively know where each other are, and when and how to give help.

I've always been intruiged by restaurants. For someone who loves food and loves sharing it with others, what better obsession?

Funny the places that calm and recharge us...

I have Great Coworkers!

Last Wednesday, our company participated in the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge. It's a 3.5 mile race for charity. It also really hit me over the head with what great coworkers I have here.

I suggested the idea on a whim...an everyone was so enthusiastic! It was great to have support for something

1. Our team has never done before
2. I have never done before (I've never run a 3.5 mile race in my life!)

In fact, virtually all of the company was able to make it (and we really missed L who couldn't).

I felt so proud that everyone loved the T-shirts. (They say, "We think faster than we run.") I felt even prouder when we arrived on the field, the fog not dampening our spirits one bit, all proudly showing our company colors.

OK, so I run slower than everyone else in the company. Which actually turned out to be a blessing. As I came around the final bend, and sprinted the final stretch, there was the whole team, whooping and hollering for me. Thanks, guys! It's because of you that I ran my fastest ever: 3.5 miles at a 10-minute mile.

Next year, I hope that I'll be cheering someone else onto the the finish line...

Overheard at a Wedding

Ted and I were blissfully dancing...as we always do. Not perfect, but completely immersed in a world of us, the music, and the present moment. An old man taps us on the shoulder:

I used to be a professional dancer before World War II. Let me tell you, I think you guys are wonderful. Thanks for giving an 88-year-old inspiration to get up and dance.

He then proceeds to escort his wife onto the dance floor. The same wife who would later sing a jazz standard with the band...such a rich, vibrant, lively voice.

Simple praise that means so much. Thank you.

My Strengths According to Gallup

I took the Clifton Strengths-Finder this week. It's a 40-minute test that identifies your top 5 talents from a pool of 34 possible talent themes that Gallup identified through 25 years of interviews with people from all walks of life.

Here's the idea:

Weakness fixing prevents failure.
Strengths building leads to excellence.

Most of us, especially me, focus on identifying and addressing our weaknesses. Maybe it's because society tells us we should be humble. But, imagine the possibilities if we really developed our strengths. How we could really contribute something unique to the world.

So, at long last, here's what my top 5 strength themes are:

1. Futurist: I'm driven by and dream of the future, and have visions of what could be.
2. Strategic: I see patterns in complexity that allow me to solve problems effectively.
3. Positivity: I see the glass half full.
4. Relator: I derive great satisfaction from developing and deepening relationships.
5. Achiever: I'm not satisfied unless I get something done every day.

It's uncanny how accurate this is! I can't wait to apply this to my life!

Mmmmmmmm...

From this afternoon:

I'm sitting here eating one of those decadent semi-sweet chocolate chunk cookies from Specialties: hot, chewy, straight from the oven, chocolate chips still melted.

Life is good....

Nike Running Club

Wow, I haven't posted in a while. That's because I've been so busy living up life, I've had few moments to sit down and write about it.

One of the things that's kept me busy is discovering new hobbies. Running for one. "Running?", you say? "Doesn't that date back to when they invented feet?" Relax, my friend, running's an old sport, but it's never been my cup of tea. The idea of tirelessly and repetitively pounding one foot ahead of the other, usually while you're alone, and out of breath...I just never really understood it.

But, the Nike Running Club has got me running! How'd they accomplish such a herculean task? They've made running social. They've made it supportive. They've made it exciting.

Usually, I'm skeptical of corporate-run marketing events. At some point, during college, they told me I should be smart enough to see through them. But I'm smart enough to see through this one, and I still enjoy it. From a marketing perspective, it's brilliant. From a personal perspective, it's a lot of fun.

What does this involve? Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm, hundreds of runners, mostly women, show up at the Niketown store in Union Square. You can pick one of 7 models of Nike shoe to trial run that day. Music is pumping, people are chatting and meeting each other, and there's an announcer on the mike with raffles, training tips, and general encouragement. You group according to your running pace, and they cheer you off!

Someone else is setting the pace, so you don't have to worry about running too fast. You're chatting and getting to know people as you're running. Aid stations with water and snacks are sprinkled along the way so you don't have to carry water. Pressure to stay with the group keeps you going when your energy is flagging. And everyone's in a positive and friendly mindset!

Pretty soon, the faster running groups are passing by on their way back, and we cheer each other on. When we return, the music's going, people are cheering, and there's water, food and a festive atmosphere. "What an accomplishment!", you feel. And you're ready to do it again.

I'll admit: the 4 miles I ran on Wednesday was probably the farthest I'd ever run. In fact, after my first run on Wednesday, I convinced Ted to go with me at 8am this Sunday morning! He's such a saint that he decided to go. At 9:30 am, we felt so charged: normally we'd still be in bed now, but today, we've already achieved so much!

What a great win-win event! Nike wins because we're running more and trying their products. I win because I'm getting healthier, achieving new heights, and having fun!