Blanc

 

I have to say it is to the utmost absurdity that this Marriott where I stay at has its concierge lounge closed on weekends.  So does this mean Marriott guests don't have needs on weekends? 

 

But anyway,  I saw Julie and Julia tonight... It's awkward that the name of this movie just sounded like the movie itself, which gives the utter impression of just two random women's names.   Just like its many reviews on Fandango, the movie is what people referred to the most as "cute'.  Obviously, it is a chick flick otherwise it wouldn't be called cute.   Me personally, with the expectation of walking out of the theater with some recipes that I can try at home, I say I am fairly disappointed.  But after all, it was a movie about two writer and cooks, not a Food Network show on the big screen, so I felt self justified. 

 

I was thirsty and hungry after the movie.  Thirsty probably because of the salty Chinese food I had earlier at Chinatown.  As far as the hunger goes, I blame it to the movie with all the gourmet dishes cooking up and down.    So I was hoping to find a grocery store so that I can pick up a bottle of water and maybe a couple of apples.   Sadly, compared to Coolidge Corner's Brroklyn like city beat, Kendall Square at night feels like downtown LA, pure deadness.  No grocery store spotted within the radius of 2 miles on Google Map.  So I decided just to try my luck at my hotel.   I am so used to sneak in to the concierge lounge at some Marriotts at night just to pick up some yogurts, water, or fruit at night.  But not at this one, because this one simply has its lounge closed off on weekends.   So did I testify this personally by sticking the key into the lounge door.  No luck!   Just as thirsty and grumpy as I was, I all of a sudden glimpsed at a small shelf next to the concierge door with a bunch of apples and one pear on the shelf.   I immediately grabbed the pear without too much thinking.   I swear that was THE best pear I have had in the longest time, juicy, succulent, sweet, and cripsy...all in that one pear which I have been desperately looking for almost the whole night.  

 

I almost gave up on finding some fruit to eat for the night and all of a sudden it just came without too much effort at all.  I am glad I decided to try the concierge lounge one more time even I almost certainly knew it won't open, but I am happy that I didn't give up, and look where I am now: happy and content, sitting in from the computer blogging.  Never Give Up!  Good things might just be awaiting around the corner, and if you have good faith, they are usually free!

 

 

I was shoppig at Trader Joe's today and had the following conversation when I was at the check out counter with a new cashier. 

 

Apparently he is new to Orangina. 

 

The guy:" Is this just lemon lime flavored soda?"

 

Me:"Yes! It is. Why?"

 

The guy:"I don't know, people just keep buying this."

 

In the light of helping him to understand why this drink is so popular to some, I added,

 

Me: "Well, this drink is very popular in France. Classic drink."

 

The guy, a college student looking all-american guy, glimsped at me for a second and said nothing. 

 

Me:"well, if you go to France, you pretty much see it anywhere you go, market, restaurant, vending machine, and etc.."

 

the guy stared at me again. No expression on his face. 

 

The guy:"You have a great day sir!"

 

 

Obviously, the guy most likely thought I was a French loving snob.   As I walked out the market, I realized how eagerly stupid I was to educate the guy on the Frenchiness of the drink, and he probably thought I was just an arrogant mobster who thinks drinking a funny looking bottle of Orangina is cool.   

 

But the bottom line is I felt that conversation had so many different directions to interpret that it is just very interesting to think about.  Just like he might never understood why a special group of customers keeps buying this mundane drink, I would never be able to figure out what exactly was going through his mind when I was expressing my Orangina snobbiness. 

 

 

Book of Szen is a life philosophy series.  From time to time, the Book gives out life advice that is indeed and in need.  This week's issue is on waiting for the perfect opportunity to come, which is a classic paradox in people's life.  Being candid about the danger of keep waiting, the Book takes an active approach to motivate us to act rather than to wait.  As it concludes with a touché Szenippet, "timing is everything" only works for those who prepare to act. I quote this article for myself, just to remind myself the enlightening moment I first read it, also to serve as a motivator for whatever I do everyday.   

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Wait Problem

I really enjoy exploring the aspects of time, the fleeting subject that it is. How it takes time to do anything, yet anything you actually do happens in the one moment you do it. Time is certainly precious, as we all know, and no matter what you earn or achieve, time is limited and thus should be spent wisely. Which brings me to this point in time and today’s subject: waiting – time’s number one enemy.

There are three types of waiting.

1.     Waiting for something, anything, to happen and not caring what it is.

2.     Waiting for something you really want to happen and can’t stand waiting for it.

3.     Waiting for permission to stop waiting.

Waiting for something new to change your perspective or life is pretty common I think. We sometimes get in a rut and even though we may realize it is a rut of our own design, we stay patiently hoping for something, a sign, an event, a moment that will energize us to start caring again. Maybe we silently pray for a reason to change our situation. Maybe our situation has lost its luster and has become rote and predictable; it’s still okay but somehow not enough and definitely not painful enough to instigate a change on our own. Thus we wait for the universe to deliver a “happening” to inspire us to act.

The universe of course will oblige, but without a clear vision of what you want or need it will send whatever it thinks will shake you off your mark. People are often amazed at what is delivered to them and unfortunately don’t always like it. It could come in the form of an illness, or job loss or an accidental encounter. On the positive side, it could be winning the lottery or finding true love. But whatever form it takes, it succeeds in its purpose to move you from the “wait” list to the “do” list.  Once moved, you never move back.

What if you are focused on something that you really want but it is taking its own sweet time to manifest? It could be a promotion, a business opportunity, a degree, loan, funding, inheritance or a stubborn client, mate or child. You know deep inside that once “it” arrives, the waiting will be over and life can begin. The goal is so noble and significant that your undying need of the expected outcome has you stuck in a state of abeyance, which is akin to the baseball player waiting for the perfect pitch. There is no such thing; forget the home run; just try to get on base. As Will Rogers said; “even if you’re on the right track, you’ll still get run over if you just sit there.”

The real problem with waiting is that the goal, whatever it may be, is only in your mind. It’s something you imagined, dreamed of or concocted to give you hope and a sense of purpose. It’s your inner vision of the real you, the you that can create whatever it is you want. The you that’s waiting to get on with your life. It’s not something to assume will come to you. It’s something that is you. It’s something that can’t wait to be born. It’s something that needs to get out to start living its own life now, today, this moment.

 

So, why are you still waiting? You have permission to stop waiting this moment. You can do that by moving your thinking into acting. The shear process of movement and action will help you download your dream into the reality it is destined to be. Take the first step to your goal and then the second and then third etc. and know that by staying intent on your dream and believing in yourself you’ll overcome all of the obstacles, those who doubt you, and your own fear. You will literally own time and not be a victim of it. You will be in the state of “being” not waiting, and in that miraculous moment you will proclaim that “yes, I have arrived.” You will have transcended from a “think I can” to a “yes I am” reality - the secret mantra for all those whose time has come, including you.

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Today’s Szenippet: (pronounced znippet): “Timing is everything” only works for those prepared to act.

Gary

From the Book of Szen

The Book of Szen is published weekly or thereabouts and permission to reprint or share is granted. For back issues please email me directly at garys@ergoworldwide.com  © Gary Szenderski 2008 All Rights Reserved. Gary is an author, branding specialist and part-time instructor at UCI. He specializes in helping people and organizations navigate change. Gary resides in Southern California.