Escape your reading comfort zone

Despite not being, I'm quite sure, the intended audience (young and female) for Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez, it was a fast and surprisingly enjoyable read. The romantic comedy formula was followed, but the characters were amusing and likable. Their family and health struggles were over the top, but the challenges added depth to the characters and interest to the plot. 

Reading it made me realize that I should read outside my comfort zone more often - even rather silly books like this. Even when abs and penises are graphically described from a female perspective. (Again, my demographic was not the intended audience.)

While loafing here in Ecuador over the past few weeks, I’ve had plenty of time to read. I read the title above because it is one of this year’s Minnesota Book Award nominees for genre fiction. A friend of mine and I agree to read all the nominees in the genre category so we can discuss them on our weekly hikes. While much of the category is made up of mystery stories, each year usually includes the odd duck.

I’ve read a number of books this trip that fall out of my usual comfort zone of reading including:

• Whitaker’s The Mapmakers Wife. Non-fiction history about a scientific expedition to South America in 18th century.
• Doeer’s Cloud Cuckoo Land. Strange multi-plot book centered around an ancient manuscript.
• Zusak’s The Book Thief. Historical fiction set in a small town in Germany during WWII with the plot centered around an abandoned girl and her adoptive family.
• Hardt’s Sex in the Sea. Nonfiction about the strange reproductive practices of marine life.

Throw in a couple mysteries I also read, and you can see I’ve had a productive few weeks.

I’ve always thought I’ve a fairly broad reading range. Mystery and adventure, of course, but I also often read historical fiction and science fiction. But I find it is also rewarding to now and then escape my reading comfort by tackling a best seller or a recommendation by a friend.

Perhaps I should escape my daily real-life comfort zone more often as well. I just might find things I like. And I encourage you to do so as well.

The blessing of work

My office at Izchaluma

Despite spending a few days here in a relaxing hostel in Ecuador, I find that I also need to spend some time each day “working.” So I am editing a collection of posts I’ve written on my blog over the past 15 years or so. Maybe I will call it Whiffs from the Blue Skunk. It’s a personal project with no expectation of it ever being commercially published. But who cares?

Anyway, I ran across the post below and it seemed to help me answer the question of why so many companies are finding it hard to find employees. The economists seem to think it is all about salaries, but I am not so sure…

The blessing of work

Ora et labora - Pray and labor. St. Benedict

I'm not sure why "work" has such a negative connotation in U.S. society. Perhaps it is a residual sentiment from times when most "work" was physical - dirty, dangerous, and exhausting.

I’ve thought a great deal about "work" and its place in my life - how it has defined me, shaped me, and rewarded me. While it has not always been true all the time about every job I've had, I have generally been blessed with work that gives me pleasure and my life meaning. My son-in-law's sermon one Sunday talked about St. Benedict and his observation that work and prayer can be one and the same. And that "work" is not the same as employment. I would agree.

When unemployment rates are too high, when job opportunities seem to be lacking, and when people seem to be unable to advance at their place of work or in their careers, the problem is too often framed as simply economic. And while it's absolutely true that everyone ought to be able to put a roof over one's head, purchase healthy food for one's table and give one's family decent medical care and an education, we focus far too much on the monetary rewards of work rather than the psychological rewards. The real tragedy of a lack of work is when people can't find joy in life and form a positive view of themselves. It's not really about taxpayers needing to fund welfare or unemployment payments. People without meaningful work are living a diminished life.

Everyone should take pleasure and find meaning in their work. 

And this includes students and their school "work." Whether in class or out of class, any task a teacher gives needs to be given thoughtfully, mindful of how its successful completion defines, shapes, and rewards the student's sense of him or herself. Why should students not look forward to school work as much as many adults look forward to going to work?

It's the challenges, the problems, the obstacles, and the work that make life pleasurable. Think about it as your work day begins.

Living in paradise

Paradise: an ideal or idyllic place or state.

Perhaps the Izhcayluma Hostel just outside Vilcabamba, Ecuador is as close as one might come to paradise on earth.

Opened in 2001 by three German brothers, the complex sits high above the town on a steep hillside. One of the brothers told me that when they bought the property, the area was a pasture. Now each of the buildings that contain the restaurant and reception area, a bar lounge area, swimming pool, and buildings containing 40 rooms are hidden by trees, shrubs, and flowering plants that host a myriad of birds. Two cats and an old, sweet dog make the place home as well. The dog made himself right at home in my room this morning.

My room is simple, but very nice ($32 a night). En suite bath with a hot shower in a stone-walled space, great Internet, a private balcony just outside the door, comfortable bed, storage spaces, and a bedside lamp. Good reading chair and hammock on the balcony. The meals are good (many German dishes) and reasonably priced. Breakfast is $3.90 and includes a huge bowl of fresh fruit, granola, yogurt, toast, fresh juice, and as much coffee as you can drink. Wine is inexpensive. Oh, full-bodied 75 minute massages are $25. Staff knows your name and is extremely helpful.

The town is a half hour walk down the hill, along a highway or on a small dirt road. (Met a very nice horse this morning on the road.) Vilcacamba is small but has a lovely central square, church, and lots of small stores and restaurants, mostly catering to tourists. A taxi ride back up the mountain to the hostel is $3. (Ecuador uses the US dollar - nice.) The hiking trails are extensive. 

It is quiet here this afternoon as I write this. A gentle rain is falling. Daytime temps are in the low 70s. The altitude is 5200 feet - lower than either Quito or Cuenca. NIghts get down to the upper 50s. The people are friendly - maybe a little older than the average hostel guest, but then this is more resort than hostel in my view. The Vilcabamba Valley is noted for the longevity of its residents. Not sure about the longevity of the tourists who visit.

While the luxurious Shangri La in Bangkok with its ice cream on the breakfast buffet and stunning views of the Chao Phra river may run a close second (thanks to generous conference organizers I’ve stayed in lots of nice places*), except for the difficult spelling and and pronunciation, Izhcayluma just might now be my favorite place to stay

While I will be happy to get back to family and friends next week, I will take advantage of my week here to read, write, and just relax. Oh, and get a daily massage. I think it may be mandatory.

*A little rant from 2009 about five star hotels