ELEGANT SIMPLICITY

The phrase "elegant simplicity" seems to appear over and over again.  It shows up in fashion: "her dress had an elegant simplicity"; in architecture: "the design had a modern elegant simplicity to it";   in science "Elegantly simple organizing principles seen in ribosomes"; in math: "the solution to the formula was elegantly simple"; and in life "Human happiness, true prosperity and joyful living can only emerge from a life of elegant simplicity."

But what is elegant simplicity.  Put another way how is it recognized. How do we achieve elegant simplicity. Stated succinctly, elegant simplicity presents itself to us in the form of solutions that  cut through the complexities and messiness that plague us and present in our mind's eye as a remarkably simple yet elegant solution.  The solution becomes so simple, so obvious,  that it makes elegant sense.  It is perhaps an "aha" moment in which we see something clearly where before it was an inconceivable jumble.  Sometimes, it represents a mastery over an objective problem, but more often it refers to our lives in that it represents a mastery over the problem of ourselves.  A life of elegant simplicity is one in which we have finally seen ourselves, in a true light,  a light that allows us to understand and see clearly our true person.  This understanding leads to an expression of ourselves through our actions, our words, our clothing, our love, our service, our careers, our religion -- in fact every aspect of our lives.

When we live a life of elegant simplicity we find a way to gracefully be in the world and with others.  As one author has noted in describing a graceful existence:

"It is made up of a poised and relaxed body, smooth and efficient motion, attentiveness, compassion. There is a contented silence to grace; it avoids what is loud and intrusive, and what offends the eye. . .Grace doesn’t make a fuss about itself, but it subtly warms and transforms the atmosphere. At its essence, grace is the transference of well-being from one who is calm and comfortable to those around them."

 Kaufman, Sarah L.  The Art of Grace: On Moving Well Through Life . W. W. Norton & Company. Kindle Edition.

The shoe and clothing company Cole Haan just released a video of New York City Ballet dancers elegantly dancing through pedestrians in the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.  You can see the video by clicking on the video link at the top of this post.  The video does a great job of artistically reminding us that as we move through life on an everyday basis we are expressing ourselves,  be that expression elegant or inelegant, our lives for better or for worse are expressions of ourselves.  To live a truly sterling life I hope to unlock elegantly simple solutions. Those solutions provide a key to knowing who I really am, so that I can gracefully present that person to the world.

SUMMER GETAWAY

Where do you like to vacation? If you are like me you like to move around from place to place each year seeing different parts of the country.  It lets me put a bit of adventure and exploration into my vacation.  Others however like to go back to the same place, a place they like and love every summer; an annual pilgrimage if you will to the land of rest and relaxation.  

I just returned from a vacation to the lake regions of Northern Minnesota.  The kids got to see the headwaters of the Mississippi, a spot where you can walk across stepping stones of the Mississippi where it is just a small shallow stream.  We spent time with family, fished the local lakes, went for bike rides and greatly enjoyed the beauty and people of the region. 

Having been on several vacations I am starting to form a concept of what I call a sterling vacation.  Some of the elements include: 

1. Natural beauty of place; 

2. Authenticity of accommodations; 

3. Community interaction that brings a feeling of belonging; and 

4. A sense of escape as though you are a universe away from the toils of daily life.  

How do you get that feeling and come back refreshed.  I am not totally certain but will be modifying this post as I ponder and research that topic.  I will say its not the number of stars on the resort, but the quality and character of the people with whom you travel as well as the new people you meet that seem to make the most impact.  

May your summer vacations bring you peace and rest.  

Holy Week: Love and Sacrifice

Love and Sacrifice

This is Holy Week, a time when we conclude Lent and focus on Christ's sacrifice.  Before Christ was crucified he had one final meal with his disciples.  He washed their feet and instructed them that they should serve each other as he has served them.  He left them with a strong mandate to love each other as he has loved.  And in case anyone misunderstood what he meant by "love" he made it painfully obvious:"Greater love has no one other than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

With that mandate we as humans have our work cut out for us.  We are to forgive each other when we wrong each other, treat others better than we treat ourselves, accept others without judging, not lie to each other, encourage each other, not slander each other and live in harmony with each other.  To accomplish all this we have been given lives, personalities and souls so that each of us in our own unique way can serve others in love.

Christ's commandment puts forth a universal truth which is beyond debate -- if we love each other as Christ loved then our joy will be complete. A study was performed looking at the lives of Harvard Students over a period of decades which demonstrates the importance of love. Begun in 1938, the Grant Study of Adult Development charted the physical and emotional health of over 200 Harvard students, starting with their undergraduate days. It followed them from 1938 until the present.  In 2012 Harvard Professor George Valiant published his findings from the study in a book titled Triumphs of Experience:  The Men of the Harvard Grant Study. What it found was that over the course of 80 years of study the key to happiness was strong loving relationships with others.  Such things as money, genetics, social status, education and work did not matter anywhere near as much as good loving relationships.  

But as Christ shows us loving each other is frequently easier said than done.  The sacrifices we must make -- the offenses from others that we must both endure and forgive -- while at the same time placing others ahead of ourselves is not an easy task for anyone. But if we are to achieve a truly sterling life, one in which we end our lives polished with a patina of weathered happiness there is one ingredient that must be present -- love.  

I hope you enjoy your Easter and find the joy of Christ.  

Vitae Summa Brevis Spem Nos Vetat Incohare Longam

Ernest Dowson

The brief sum of life forbids us the hope of enduring long. –Horace

They are not long, the weeping and the laughter, 
Love and desire and hate: 
I think they have no portion in us after 
We pass the gate. 

They are not long, the days of wine and roses: 
Out of a misty dream 
Our path emerges for a while, then closes 
Within a dream.

Cold Winters - Warm Hearts

When looking at a classic painting of a winter scene, it almost feels warmly romantic.  Of course there is nothing romantic about the experience of cold winter storms.  We Americans have been recently reminded of the harshness that bitter cold brings.  Nevertheless, when I look at paintings like the one below I don't think of being out in the cold, I think of home, shelter, comfortable food and loving family.  Seeing the cold scene brings to mind thoughts of protection from the storm.   It's an odd emotion in response to such a painting, but the painting does not appear to be painted to create cold emotions.  There are warm colors of brown and black with flowing waters and men working as a team. There is the shelter of the ship and the sense of adventure that comes from trying to navigate the Thames in Ice.  It's amazing to me that paintings can depict one thing,  here a winter storm, but produce emotions not experienced by being actually present in the scene.  It reminds me that if I do find myself in a harsh storm, that on the other side of the storm is the warm comfort of home and family.  I hope you enjoy Whistler's The Thames in Ice.  And I hope that no matter how cold it gets you find warm comfort in your life.

Christmas Past

Washington Irving's description of Christmas Eve:

"Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad, The nights are wholesome--then no planets strike, No fairy takes, no witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time."

The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, Washington Irving, 1819

Beautiful Video Suggesting a Simpler Life: Get Back

Lincoln has posted the following video by Eliot Rausch in which the director encourages all of us to get back to our relationships by putting down our phones and technology and relating to each other.  Enjoy.

http://vimeo.com/64641161