December 2019 Monthly Dose
I always enjoy the end of year as I take time to reflect on the past year and connect with friends and family. Whether it is writing in our annual year book, taking notes on what I learned, or indulging in extra reading I am always reminded of what I full life I have. I hope this edition encourages you to reflect and be happy for all that you have.
Meal time: We are fortunate, but also purposeful in our effort to eat as a family. Our kids are still young, which means some meals are a flaming disaster, and evening activities have yet to start in earnest but we eat at the table together almost seven nights a week. It is a time of day I cherish and I now understand why at Sunday family dinner my dad often remarked how great it was to have all of us around the table together. Not many things in life bring family together like a good meal. Read this article on the family dinner in the Washington post.
Sleep: I feel like I am droning on about kids but they are a bit all consuming these days, especially when it comes to sleep. Our kids sleep pretty well but its often the case of one up, one down. For a few weeks one of them was interrupting sleep during the night and / or waking early. I didn't realize I was sleep deprived until I woke up two mornings in a row with full un-interrupted sleep - I forgot that you could wake up feeling refreshed. Here are two good reads on sleep - 1. how sleep may wash away harmful proteins, potentially protecting us from brain decline in later life and 2. An Interview with Cheri Mah (who has studied sleep extension, and works with some the NBAs greats.)
Great book: I read The antidote a number of years ago on a recommendation from a close friend. I thought of it recently and reviewed the lessons. It is a refreshing read and definitely an antidote to some of the non-fiction on the shelves. The author does not take himself too seriously and knows many arguements for a better life are not binary. The answer often lies somewhere in the middle. A key concept from the book explores the need to let go of constant goal setting, embracing suffering, and accepting negative emotions. This book wasn't as big a success as The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck, but they share lessons and Burkeman is a better author in my opinion.
As always thanks for reading. Merry Christmas
Dave Carter
ps: quotes to leave you with
I watch its a Wonderful Life every year and it never ceases to make me feel a over-whelmed emotionally. In George Baily's office we are reminded: "all that you can take with you is that which you have given away." And the classic scene at the end of the book, with a note from Clarence the angel, "no man is a failure who has friends."
From the antidote, "The effort to feel happy is often precisely the thing that makes us miserable. Constant efforts to eliminate the negative, that causes us to feel insecure, anxious, uncertain, or unhappy." Oliver Burkeman
Our kids are enthusiastic about Christmas. Santa, not so much:)