Friday, May 20, 2011

Fire up the questions

My head has been swimming in Paris in the weeks since I’ve been back. It was such a great trip. The perfect balance of visiting mes amis (miss you!), writing and working on the book, and basking in Paris’ charms and graces. The sublime weather didn’t hurt either. (Nor did the almond croissants.)

Then I came home to New York and got sick. Again. It’s been raining for six days in a row now, making this an epic Bad Hair Week. And, in case you haven’t heard, the world is going to end tomorrow.

In other words, I’m starting to wonder just what the hell I’ve been up to since I’ve been back in NYC. Has it really been three weeks? Sheesh. I did have that most lovely meal at Buvette, plus a heavenly lunch at ABC Kitchen. I saw the Generationals. I’ve taken walks in Central Park and along the Hudson River Park and have gone shopping at Chelsea Market. But mostly I’ve just been eating kale and trying to finish my book. 10 days and counting. It’s time to start thinking about what kind of champagne to get when it’s done. (Ruinart Rosé. Duh.)

The fiercest part of the alkaline diet is over and I say that with a Haribo Tagada in my mouth. Done. I’ll still go big on greens and maintain a healthy pH as much as possible, but 14 days is a long time to resist sugar. Sugar may not good for you, but it’s so good.

And then there’s this idea I have of investing in a life coach. I feel like this has been a major transition, returning to New York. I haven’t had time to really figure it out but things are percolating. It seems like it’s the right time to make a change. To go for something big. To take a risk. Or just get a new wardrobe or something. I’m taking notes and trying to really focus on what my next chapter will be. What do you think? What should the next chapter be? ?

11 comments:

  1. Due to circumstances I dropped from the face of the earth and am only now discovering your return to New York. My own transition from Paris back to normalcy (re: circumstances) has caused no end of existential woes, and I understand how brain rattling these things can be. However I'm envious of your direction, having the attainable and defined goal of completing a book. It seems like such a momentous task provides its own next chapter, so long as you hold on and see where it takes you. Unless the world ends tomorrow.

    Best of luck.

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  2. What do you want the next chapter to be? Once you set your mind to something you just get it done!

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  3. I hope you are being a bit tongue-in-cheek by asking your readers for life counseling. Let me offer up a bit of wisdom, but first let me balance this 40 oz on my gut covered by a filthy t-shirt as I hit pause on the bass fishing show I’m watching at 3 am. The problem is where to put this bucket of chicken. What were you asking? What I think you should do with your life? To paraphrase the old rhetorical device that has stumped mystics for centuries: is the bucket half empty or did I eat most of it driving home? The above is more of a comment on “life coaches” than an autobiographical sketch (I don’t like fishing).

    I may have some advice on how to skip over the cold and flu season. My cure for the common cold and other things.

    ¡Salud!

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  4. Oh dear, are you becoming allergic to NYC? I think there are a lot of balls in the air right now (some of them edible) and it's normal to feel a little lost, like you need someone to step in and point you in the right direction. But I think what you really need is to give it time. Give the pieces time to fall together naturally. Finish the book (omg!), and then start thinking about your next move.
    In the meantime, be sure to rest during your writing breaks!

    You're courageous with the sugar ban.... as hard as I try, I'm powerless in the face of a speculoos cookie!

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  5. Maybe...let go of the reins a bit. See where the wild horse takes you when you are not steering it so tightly.

    There's nothing to be afraid of. Just let go. Just wait and see what happens next. You are used to a fast pace, so the galloping, breakneck speed of an uncontrolled life won't scare you, but it might bring you a few lovely surprises that can only happen when you relinquish control.

    ps: and yes, I know...pot calling kettle black..I should learn to take my own advice too! :) xx

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  6. Sometimes Life changes are thrust upon us and we are often really reluctant to go along with them, we do our best to avoid them and some we fight to the bitter end then suffer loss.
    I would much rather think of you as throwing yourself wholeheartedly into a fabulous change like we did .. not just for a short term gig but with Always in mind.

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  7. I want to add that I agree with Lost in Cheeseland .. How I admire your abolishing sugar from your diet. I know it is bad for you, I know I don't really need 3 teaspoons of sugar in my coffee and tea with a cookie but I have no will power. So I especially admire you for your Vegan Mondays and sugar control.

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  8. As always, thank you everyone for the thoughtful comments. (Especially you, Zombie. I was literally thinking of you recently, wondering where you'd wandered off to... glad to 'see' you again. I hope you're doing okay).

    Lindsey and Candice, the sugar withdrawal was just one of those things you do because you're doing it. Some days were horrendously difficult, but overall it was surprisingly easy. But only because I knew an end was in sight. I could never give it up for good.

    Anyway, I mostly appreciate all your thoughts on chapters an life coaches and the meaning of it all. And thank goodness the world didn't end yesterday. I probably will do a life coach; probably. But, oui, first I will let go a little bit and give myself some time to figure it out on my own.

    Bis. xo.

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  9. I've been trying to kick sugar again, too. *le sigh* FINALLY, someone else who loves the Haribo Tagada! People have made fun of me for liking those so much. I swear, they put crack in those things, though. I've been off sugar for the better part of two years (with many hops off the wagon), and the Tagada Fraise get me every time. I can even stay away from chocolate at this point! *gasp!* But those damn little strawberry candies!?! Argh! I can't leave them alone...

    Here's to figuring life out. And here's to good changes, and good things ahead for you. I have every confidence that you will, indeed, figure it all out. Or at least if not all (has anyone? Besides, like, Buddha and Mother Theresa, etc, etc?), then the next step. :)

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  10. I hear myself in this post: not quite done with one step, always wondering what the next is. Here's what I think my peeps would tell me to do if I had asked from a situation similar to yours:

    1. finish the book
    2. drink champagne
    3. allow yourself - really ALLOW - to see where next you'll plant your foot
    4. eat some more sugar
    5. wear a face mask next time you fly
    6. travel more often to get your germ immunity built up

    But you don't have to listen to me. I rarely listen to my peeps, though they're usually right!

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  11. As Billy Joel sings in Vienna

    "Slow down you crazy child
    You're so ambitious for a juvenile
    But then if you're so smart tell me why
    Are you still so afraid?
    Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
    You better cool it off before you burn it out
    You got so much to do and only
    So many hours in a day"

    Take a moment to breathe friend! Enjoy the fruits of your labor (your book, your move back, friends, NYC, family...)

    Speaking as some one who just hand a forced pause taking a break and NOT working on something might give you a moment to find the next project..

    Xoxo t 

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