Valuing the Past – August 1, 2023

LEARN A LITTLE:

Valuing the Past

 It’s very easy to be caught up in the present. There’s lots to do–errands to run, work projects or assignments to be completed, emails to respond to and numerous household chores to be wrapped up. 

In response to this pressure, my wife and I have discovered the therapeutic and gratitude-building benefits of positive nostalgia that result from visiting antique stores or flea markets. Wandering down the aisles of antiques and vintage items allows us to revisit our past and recall the joys of our childhood and youthful years. It is indeed, a brief, sentimental journey that shines a light on times that had a special meaning and offers us the opportunity to share the experiences with each other. 

That doesn’t mean that we are longing for the good ol’ days or that we are not enjoying today, but it does allow us the time to appreciate the contributions of those who came before us. Actually, one of our favorite stores to visit is called “It’s Not the Same As It Never Was.” 

The truth is that we don’t collect antiques, and, for the most part, we don’t know what we should be looking for in terms of a good deal or resale value. It’s not why we go to these history emporiums. 

If I could, I would probably collect old tools, especially woodworking tools, or maybe old toys that were handcrafted. Such antiquing excursions with my wife would, however, be like going hunting with a game warden. Even now, any time I pick up an old tool, she flinches as if I had just pointed a gun at a squirrel, gives me the Game Warden look—you’ll know it when you see it—and asks, “And just where are you going to put that?” 

So, while I don’t collect much, I do think that reconnecting with our past helps us understand the present and look forward to the future. As has been said, “It’s important to realize that history doesn’t stay behind us.”

LAUGH A LITTLE:

REFLECT A LITTLE:

READ A LITTLE:

Tranquility by Tuesday

Laura Vanderkam (Portfolio/Penguin, 2022) 

This month’s book recommendation is Tranquility by Tuesday, written by well-known blogger, author and management consultant Laura Vanderkam. 

If you are interested in time management improvement strategies, honing your organizational skills and learning how “to make time for what matters now,” you will find this book valuable. The author writes from the perspective of being married, having five kids and being employed in a challenging career. 

A key definition to keep in mind as you read the book is that tranquility is “the state of being free from agitation.” The goal is tranquility when life is complicated, challenging and occasionally chaotic. 

This book is the result of a study the author conducted in 2021. The participants completed a time log at the beginning of the strategy. Over the course of the next nine weeks, they received a new time management approach weekly. At the end of each seven-day period, they completed a survey related to the new strategy. The survey included questions like:

• “How did it go?”
• “Did you like the rule?”
• “Did it make sense to you?”
• “Will you keep on following it?” 

Participants then completed follow-up questions after one month and three months to determine how the rules had impacted their lives. The results were impressive and statistically significant since they reported an increase in satisfaction with their use of time. 

The book basically unfolds the nine rules for the reader and explains the intended benefits. They fall within three subdomains:

1. Foundational basics
2. Important strategies
3. How to waste less time. 

The nine rules are shared below so that you may have a better sense of whether or not you would like to read the book. 

Part I

Rule 1: Give yourself a bedtime.

Rule 2: Plan on Fridays.

Rule 3: Move by 3:00 p.m. 

Part II

Rule 4: Three times a week is a habit.

Rule 5: Create a back-up slot.

Rule 6: One big adventure, one little adventure.

Rule 7: Take one night for you. 

Part III

Rule 8: Batch the little things.

Rule 9: Effortful before effortless. 

Probably like me, you will find some of the rules more helpful than others. I particularly liked Rule 4, “Three times a week is a habit.” “Things don’t have to happen daily, nor do they have to happen at the same time every day in order to count in our lives.” I also like to the notion that there is an important and big distinction between “never” and “not as much as I want.” This is a good antidote to all or none thinking. 

One of the other positive features of the book was that each chapter or rule ended with two narrative presentations—”Take the next step” and “Your turn.” These sections were enjoyable and helped retain my interest.

Until next time,

Art Dykstra

Purchase this and other recommended books at your local bookstore or through the HighTidePress.org bookstore.

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