Organic Employment Nucleus

When is the last time you washed your hands? As a culture, we're going to come out of this crazy Corona era with an overall cleaner lifestyle. This is a good thing.

Something I enjoy doing when I wake up is washing my hands. Not that I think germs have made residence on my hand phalanges but symbolically, I'm reminded the day is a clean slate.

Unrelated at this point in the blog, I like to compost my food throughout the year. I think everyone should. It reduces trash and adds nutrients back into the soil when used properly. Identifiably, I consider myself a compost-ologist. *steps off soap box*

When the time comes in early spring to add said compost to my garden, I generally will lay down the food compost before putting a layer of yard waste compost on top of it. This creates a bed of success for any seed. Following my nerdy garden speak still?

Inevitably when the soil temperature starts to rise, I see plants come up from the soil that I didn't initiate myself. Most of the time, these are from the seeds of the food I've eaten over the past year. In the spirit of sustainability, I normally will let a handful of peppers and tomato plants come to maturity from this and carry on the circle of life. These plants are unexpected but great surprises.

While there is a sense of light at the end of the tunnel in certain parts of the country, many of us are in a state of limbo having lost our jobs or from being fur-lowed. While financial stress is a very real and vibrant factor, take a trip down opportunity lane with me.

When looking for new employment, it's easy to silo yourself in your current industry. Simply by updating your resume, your brain assumes you'll take a job similar to one of those listed. While that may have the least barriers to entry, simply as a mental practice, I encourage you to think outside your experience and be open to other industries/interests you have.

I'm not a big "follow your passion" preacher. Good on you if you do, but you can be just as happy or happier in a job and still maintain your passions as a hobby.

My words of provocation here are a simple reminder that your skills are most likely transferrable outside of your previous jobs. Don't get too caught up in the bustle of updating your resume and scouring LinkedIn to find an old high school acquaintance. Take 30 minutes a day to not be on your computer or phone and let your mind wander.

Similar to the current unforeseen vittles growing in my garden, you'll find your personal career brainstorming will produce some unexpected surprises. Lean into those even if it's just for kicks. Yep.


New in my life: I'm changing my oil and polishing my camping supplies for a trip. Home is where you make it. The blog may get a name change. Jack London made a fire.

Keep smilin'

JM

Retirement Rehearsal

According to the CDC, the history of quarantine is as follows: The practice of quarantine, as we know it, began during the 14th century in an effort to protect coastal cities from plague epidemics. Ships arriving in Venice from infected ports were required to sit at anchor for 40 days before landing. This practice, called quarantine, was derived from the Italian words quaranta giorni which mean 40 days.

This strange time of life has brought up some human dynamics that we're all adjusting to. We're having to learn simple contentment in a crash course timeframe. Typically this is developed over decades.

For our days to feel productive now, we're having to dust off our stored away hobbies and develop out older methods of communication to keep up our human connections.

The most impactful activity that has been removed is our gatherings. Having a beer with a buddy after work, having people over to bar-b-que or date night to try out a new trendy restaurant. These have always been uplifting staples of our ordinary. This is specifically tough because of how social we are as a species and current culture.

While there are much larger negative impacts that are very real and very unjustifiable, I wanted to highlight the hopeful piece of my brain. This chapter isn't fun, but it is a chapter. We're in the thick of it right now, but the pages will keep turning.

Additionally, I hope there will be good byproducts that come from this. Get to know your family better. Spend time honing in your hobbies. If you don't have non-Netflix hobbies, get to know yourself better and develop some. It will help you in retirement.

With so much uncertainty in the air, we're looking for answers that have yet to be found. One certainty though, is that time will win and our species will adapt like we historically have.

In summation, take this seriously. Don't be selfishly flippant about your routine. Stay home and outdoors. Spread love, not Corona. Yep.


New in my life: Having to cut my own hair and my dream of having a mullet are coinciding nicely. Turkeys are smart. I'm building and writing to show affection and looking forward to same-siding.


Keep smilin'


JM