A Rare Day of Rest

After a brief stint at work this morning, a coworker asked what I had planned for the rest of the day and suggested that, if I wanted, I could spend some time kicking around with him and his family. I thought about it for a minute, and I told him that I, though grateful for the offer, I thought I might take a nap instead. He said, "A nap, man, that sounds like a pretty good idea." With that little piece of encouragement, I laid down for about three hours and slept soundly.

I would be fibbing a little if I didn't admit that the idea of turning on the television, "for just a few minutes," didn't tempt me a little, but, in the end, I fought off the idea. Waking up after a good rest, I'm glad that I resisted the devil in the flatscreen. My energy restored, I headed south to Fairhope, AL to get in a walk and catch the sunset.

On the way down to Fairhope, I thought about stopping off at a store and getting a book, but the reminder of this minimalism way of life convinced me that I really didn't need a book. I remembered I'd seen the first Little Free Library, the index case of my LFL infection so to speak, in Fairhope and decided I'd see what was on offer.

Little Free Library - Fairhope, AL

Unfortunate, nothing really caught my attention so I moved on. Making my way to the second LFL in the area, I fell in behind a small woman walking a very big dog. I snapped a picture because the sight of this unlikely pair taking a stroll through a true American downtown area is something that catches the eye. It' probably not as rare as I perceive it to be, but also not a sight that's easy to ignore.

Small woman with Large Dog - Fairhope, AL

Happily, luck favored me at the second Little Free Library, and I borrowed The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw. The dust jacket advertises that it's a book about a swordfish boat Captain who returns to her small hometown in Maine for a change of pace and the book chronicles her adventures and insights along the way. Linda Greenlaw was prominently featured in  Sebastian Junger's, The Perfect Storm, and I'm looking forward to her observations about another small town in America.

Little Free Library #2 - Fairhope, AL

After getting in the better part of my walk, I relaxed a bit near the Fairhope Pier to take in the sunset. Disappointment was not part of the program, and the universe treated me to a rendering of the horizon rich in color and subtlety.

Sunset - Fairhope, AL

I spent the final moments of the day with the Fairhope Seahorse by Bruce Larsen on the bluff overlooking the municipal pier. 

Fairhope Seahorse 

Rest and recuperation were the order of the day, but it turned into a day of beauty, serenity, and adventure as well. Tomorrow I head out into the Gulf of Mexico if things go as planned, and I'm looking forward to another day or two of new sights and adventures on the rolling ocean.

Incremental Changes Make Big Differences

The practice of divesting myself of unneeded stuff is having and impact already. Two books today. A week ago, I had no desire to get rid of these books, but today they are gone. Not only are they gone, but I've been left with a handful of memories and a new place to attempt to offload some others.

Given the reluctance with which I gave up David and Goliath, it seemed appropriate to stick with a theme and offload Outliers and Blink. I hope to write half as well as Gladwell right now, and I felt a pang of uncertainty moving on from these books because of their inspirational value. I embraced all three books, and they became a small part of my identity. Giving up a piece of oneself feels awkward.

Separating from them needed the right venue. A quick search, and I identified one.

Little Free Library - East Capitol Street - Washington, DC

I really like the concept of Little Free Library. The first crossed paths with these tiny places to exchange books in Fairhope, AL. The gist of the gig is that you take a book and leave a book. So far drop-offs comprise my interaction, but the idea resonates. The uncertainty of "not knowing" what might present itself for your reading enjoyment puts a bit of pizzaz back in a way of life in this country that takes on an air of mundane predictability with every passing day. These kiosks of surprise represent a connection with fate that I reach out and access at a time of my choosing. Today, this little beacon of chanciness got a couple of books that speak to me and I hope speak to someone else as well.

Minimizing - Day 2

The act of dropping these books took me to a new area for walking. I did not expect that benefit from the early steps toward minimalism. I gained a new four mile loop. It's not more than a long stone's throw from where I walked in the past, but that distance opened up new vistas that I look forward to experiencing. A used bookstore along the route advertises that they buy books. I've got some to sell them, or give them away if they'll take them.

Today reemphasized the big changes that can come from incremental changes. The anticipation of letting two books go filled my day with the good kind of anticipation. The new route a short distance from my old standby reinvigorated my sense of curiosity. The positive benefits of both results energize my hope of more to come as I move away from the things that tie me to an anchor in my past.

I always look forward to what's around the corner, but tonight the imaginations seem a bit more colorful. The hopes just a tad more real. The excitement just a bit more prickly. Till then...