Building Something
This week was so full, so engaging on every front. It didn’t exhaust me, because I managed my sleep well - but the entire 5-day workweek felt like a non-stop gauntlet taking me from one thing to the next…straight into a weekend gauntlet of moving our oldest son back to school in North Carolina.
He and I agreed that “Hotel Bell” has been downgraded to “Motel Bell” - the amenities have slipped since the last time he was a full-time resident here. Rather than fresh-squeezed orange juice and Eggs Benedict for breakfast, guests at our establishment now receive the dregs of the morning coffee pot and some Eggos. This is intentional on the part of the hosts. Why would any little birdie fly out of the nest, if the nest was the Four Seasons? He’ll be glad to return to a domain over which he has complete control, and his parents look forward to the same.
The concept of chaos has been on my mind this week. One reason for this is that I am constantly questioning how I am using my time as I build my EOS practice. I’ve been saying “yes” to a lot of things, using the rationale “This will help me grow my practice.” Of course, the path to my intended future isn’t completely well-paved with clear signage keeping me exactly on-track. As with anything new, we try things, learn and adjust as we build. Our experience with Rosie is exactly the same. Training this sweet little pup the ins and outs of being a Bell takes time, and not all tactics are effective.
On a macroeconomic level, I think we are seeing this with the Trump administration’s massive revamping of our our country’s approach to levying tariffs on imported goods. This is a substantial renovation of the U.S. government’s revenue model, and is hotly debated in terms of whether it will create net benefit for our society.
Starting anything new and meaningful means mucking about. At first, you will never be sure if you are doing enough of the right things. In fact, a great many of them will be the wrong things. But the only way to learn is to take action, then process the feedback. So I’m taking action and adjusting on both the business front and the pet training front. Only time will reveal what is working, and what isn’t.
Creating a “new normal” isn’t a passive exercise. Take action, accept the chaos, learn, adjust - and, eventually, simplify into something that works. I don’t know any other way to go about it.
Sunday Supper
We made these Stuffed Peppers for dinner last night. This Chicken & Zucchini w/ Charred Scallion Salsa looks really good. Cowboy Caviar is a great way to take advantage of the summer’s bounty.
Sunday Music
Andrew Bird, live in Amsterdam twenty years ago. Sturgill Simpson at the NPR Tiny Desk. I’m With Her, live earlier this year. Enjoy!
If you know anyone who might like this essay, please share it with them.
Have a great week ahead! You can do anything you set your mind to. Let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,