Wisdom, Wit & Wise Cracks

It’s almost the end of the year and I’m cleaning up the scraps of thoughts that have been collecting in the corners for a while.  

Nearly all countryside houses and barns in Sweden are painted a deep, earthy red called Falu Red, a quintessential symbol of pastoral life in Sweden for the last century.  It’s a distinction of Swedish identity, heritage and design.  Inevitably it’s seeped into bordering countries Norway and Finland―even America has the big red barn.

 

Falu Rödfärg is a protected trademark, which may only be used for products containing red pigment from the Falun Copper Mine in central Sweden, which dates to the 9th century.  In the 17th century, two-thirds of the Western world’s copper production came from Falun.  But when copper resources started dwindling at the end of the 1600s, the waste by-product used for production of the red paint kept the mine relevant.

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MY FAVORITE QUOTE:

We often wait for schedules to clear, for to-do lists to be checked off—always waiting for life to be in order, to settle down, an empty, clean slate—before we take the time to get into the things we really care about and really want to do. 

Here's the thing.  It.  Never.  Does. 

The lists will never empty, there will always be routine commitments and responsibilities, schedules are rarely cleared.  And we miss out on beautiful days, spontaneous plans, frivolous ideas, creative projects, good books, family time, and even daydreaming—the things that really matter.

MY SECOND FAVORITE QUOTE:

I love the idea of you, but your physical presence is kind of ruining my aesthetic.

MY THIRD FAVORITE QUOTE:

That last look back, she noticed no one really saw she was leaving

& that was when she knew she was ready for this whole new life.

AND A COUPLE MORE: 

When people show you who they are, believe them.

If your doctor won't listen to your concerns, find one who will.

You wouldn’t worry so much about what other people think about you if you knew how little they DO think about you.  

 

If you can't be a good example―then you'll just have to be a horrible warning!

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One thing I love about Japanese culture, they’ve created words to describe elusive feelings, nuanced concepts and philosophies.  We can relate to many, but we don’t have the words to communicate the subtleties.  Here are a few worth knowing.   

AWE

Yugen ― The profound grace and elusive beauty of the universe.  It’s not beauty itself, but rather the feeling you have when you see, hear, or think of something beautiful.

Bimyo ― Subtlety and delicacy in life’s in-between moments. A misty morning where the landscape is half-hidden or the flight of wild geese lost among the clouds―indescribable moments.  

 

Mono No Aware ― The bittersweet beauty and pathos of transience―leaves falling or summer fading―the gentle sadness that accompanies fleeting moments.

CHARACTER

Seijaku ― A state of tranquility and focus―energized calm―amid daily chaos.  To be at peace with oneself while maintaining one’s composure.  Finding balance.

Shikata Ga Nai ― It cannot be helped.  Focusing on what you can control and accepting what you cannot change.  Not resignation, but peace in understanding that life unfolds beyond our will at times.

Oubaitori ― Celebrating individuality and not comparing. A beautiful metaphor: Just like trees bloom differently, everyone blossoms in their own way and time.  

OUTLOOK

 

Zanshin ― A state of calm alertness and full awareness in the moment reminds you to be present, focused, and mindful in all you do.

 

Kanso ― Focusing only on the things that matter, keeping things simple, elegant and functional—regarding how we design and organize our homes—but also a guiding principle in life.

Chisoku ― Contentment and peace through knowing when you have enough.  

LIVING

 

Shizen ― A way of living that values harmony with our surroundings, as well as respect for all life forms around us.  We are part of nature.

Nagomi ― Seeking tranquility in a broader sense—balance and harmony in relationships, communities, and life.  It’s about cooperation and peace, unity and shared purpose.

Omouyari ― The power of compassion and empathy—thinking of others’ feelings and acting with kindness.

FOR FUN

Tsundoku ― The behavior of piling up books with the intention of reading them later.  It has fluid connotations in Japan.  For some it’s a charming quirk, embracing a little self-mockery, yet representing optimism.  For others it’s a sign of intellectual curiosity, humility and ambition in the face of knowledge—a monument not to what you already know, but to the infinite things you don’t.  For the English, ‘a case of tsundoku’ describes the behavior of procrastination.