Everybody's workin' for the weekend

Everybody wants a new romance

Everybody's goin' off the deep end

Everybody needs a second chance

(Lyrics from the 1981 song by Loverboy)

If you’ve never heard the song, or would like to trip down memory lane in red leather pants check out the YouTube video.

Writing in the 1950’s, Malcolm Knowles, a pioneer in adult education, found that adults learn best through experience. He wrote that adults should be in the “habit of looking at every experience as an opportunity to learn and should become skillful in learning from it” (Informal Adult Education, Chicago: Association Press).

I know many readers of this blog can get behind Dr. Knowles conclusion and agree. Interesting and novel experiences are developmental, providing opportunities to drop another color in life’s kaleidoscope. They pull us out of our comfort zone and often give us some insight about ourselves. Sometimes they bring us to a better place in our lives, personally or professionally.

Then again, sometimes they are just interesting experiences, good for a memory or two.

I love the concept of gardening -- connecting with the earth, the beauty of flowers and plants, the feeling of accomplishment.

Sigh. If my garden had eyes, they would be rolling. If it had a mouth, it would be laughing -- or, more likely, complaining. As far as I know, there is not a Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Plants; if there was, I am certain I would be some list. My Mom, Dad, husband George, and some local kids who are saving money to by iPods have (thankfully) come to the rescue of my thirsty, rocky, and weedy garden. It looks great, no thanks to me.

We all need vacations, time off to recharge our mental and physical batteries. I believe we all have a personal meter that tells us when we are over-heating and need to switch off for a while to avoid burnout. Research conducted by Air New Zealand in conjunction with former NASA scientists found that individuals’ post-vacation performance improved nearly 25% compared to performance before vacation.

You really do not need to be a NASA scientist to understand that vacations are good for the body, soul, and career. But, here’s the big question: what is your idea of a “great vacation”?

My husband George and I arrived in Hawaii very late on Monday night to start a well-deserved vacation in a place we both love. On Tuesday morning, I received a call that my dear friend Frank passed away -- cancer. He died in the arms of his wife Kylie and two daughters and is no longer in pain. He died having lived a fabulous life.

We visited Frank just before we left and he smiled widely when we told him where we were going. (The last time we vacationed in Hawaii was 2 years ago with him and Kylie.) At the end of our visit, I gave Frank a hug and a kiss, told him I loved him, said “good-bye” and that “I would miss him in Hawaii”. I guess I could have left off “in Hawaii”.

Interactions today are fleeting. Information availability is overwhelming. Our attention is diverted easily as we are inundated with competing demands on our cognitive and emotional resources.

I, for one, want 2010 to be about quality (not quantity). My New Year’s resolution is to practice mindfulness – to live moment and be more present.