The Joy Of Doing Things Badly
Love and Joy!, February 2005
Happy February! We here at the newsletter are really pumped about your reactions to our first issue. Thank you so much for all of the wonderful support and feedback! In honor of you--our readers--and the one day of the year that takes as many people to the chapel as it does to the rooftop, welcome to our love issue.
This month, we are thrilled to welcome some really fantastic contributors--with insights on finding love that range from the stovetop to the mountain top. After all, you really didn't think this was gonna be all about kissey faces and heart shaped jacuzzis? ...Did you? Well, suck it up, because there's a lot more love in this world than what's between a man and a woman... or another man for that matter... or even a fine Cuban cigar.
It would be fantastic to hear that you all go through the newsletter each month and gain a touch of inspiration. Maybe you discover that someone else is going through the same strife, but they have a different perspective on getting through it. Or maybe you'll be motivated to try something you've been avoiding, or afraid of, or had no clue existed at all.
Either way, here's our one request: whatever you do, do it with love.
NEXT MONTH: The Daily Grind
Tell us about your job. Why you do it, how you do it, and most importantly: where do you find your joy?
From the Editor
Vivianne A. Njoku
Ciao! Here's a big hug to all of you out there in Joy Newsletter land: MMMMMMMM! If you're wondering how I can be so chipper and sunny in the dead of winter... you obviously don't live in Southern California (my condolences to all of our East Coast peeps out there--don't worry, it always melts!).
I've found that out in this oh-so-inviting climate I've managed to rekindle the romance with my greatest love of all: my mind. Of course, weeks spent cooped up inside for lack of warm weather always produced a great deal of creativity... the only real issue was that the product was most times more than a touch on the gloomy side.
What I love about being a creative being in Los Angeles is that I can actually feel my mind thanking me for making good use of my time here. It appreciates when I find a spot under a tree to sit and meditate. Or when I smile and close my eyes to feel the sun on my face as I sit on the 'expressway' not going particularly fast.
All of these moments trigger my mind to free itself more and more. Now those ideas that I feared would meet disapproval in the light of day dance around topless with no shoes on. How bad can it be when I have a full sun to look forward to almost every day? Shoot, even when it rains I still keep going--the battery's been charging for so long; a few days on manual isn't gonna kill it.
- Vivianne A. Njoku
Monthly Book Excerpt
Veronica Chambers
I've come to believe that if I could walk ass first into a room, I would never want for a man. It's not that my butt is small, or even particularly perky. To the contrary, I've got what L.L. Cool J would call an "around-the-way-girl" booty. It's big and it's the one part of my body that I love unabashedly...
It's true, that growing up in an African-American and Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, I was programmed to be proud of a big booty... It wasn't until I graduated from college and began working with women of different backgrounds that I realized that most American women don't aspire to a big old butt. On the contrary, I learned that most American women don't even like their rear ends.
Case in point. A couple of years ago, I was invited to a black tie event and went shopping for an affordable, but beautiful evening dress with my friend Carrie. She's white, thirty-something and, before Jennifer Lopez hit the scene, completely clueless about the power of the booty. At a major department store sale, I tried on evening dress after evening dress.
Finally, I settled on a rose colored Gianfranco Ferre dress with a draped neckline. "I love it," I said. "I want to buy it." Carrie paused and her expression was pained. "What?" I asked. "I like it from the front, but it makes your butt look big" she said, letting out a sigh. My response? "Sold!"
Fitness Guru Aimee Carpenter
In a world where everyone is searching for the perfect fitness solution: yoga, Pilates, cardio, weights, high carbs, low carbs, no carbs... it is easy to lose sight of the most important variable, the starting point: loving yourself. With that comes the nurturing of your mind, body, and spirit.
As a trainer, I do fully believe that exercise and diet are paramount in living a healthy life, but it is not only about taking an hour a day to work your body, you must also free your mind. That time should be about you and finding the type of fitness program that you look forward to doing. For me I find that in running; feeling the freedom, taking control of my path. There is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when I finish. I am ready to handle whatever is thrown my way next. For many of my clients, it is hiking up to the top of a mountain and breathing in the cool fresh air and leaving behind the noise of the city. Not only have they worked their muscles, but they leave feeling more spiritually connected.
Whether you choose to work out alone or make a pact with a friend, it is important to choose some sort of activity that will allow you to embrace your inner spirit and take the time to breathe out the stress of your every day life. Love yourself for who you are and take joy in the fact that you are unique--quirkiness and all. Love yourself enough to set the time aside to keep your body and mind running smoothly. But most importantly, bask in the glow of your accomplishments.
Chef Supreme Marcus Samuelsson
When I started my cooking career I soon realized that I had to go to several different countries to get cooking experience. My first trip was to Switzerland and I was working at the Victoria Jungfrau, which is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. I did not speak any German at the time and to make it really complicated, all meetings and menus where written in French, while I tried to communicate with the staff in English.
So I was somewhere in between thinking in Swedish, writing menus in French and communicating in bad German to people who didn't speak English. Christmas Eve was approaching with a black tie gala event and I was in charge of making the avocado terrine for the smoked salmon. In order to make the terrine sit I had to use gelatin, which was one of many ingredients. I got all the ingredients right--except for the gelatin. When I was about to slice the terrine I realized it did not sit. It looked more like mashed potato.
So here I was: 18 years old in Switzerland, being yelled at in four different languages, and all I wanted to do was to go home to my mom. This was my first Christmas away from my family and by far the worst... Even though I was not smiling at the end of that day, there have been many laughs over the years looking back and telling this story. I realized very early on my passion for cooking, and although it was a tough start, I always knew that I was on the right track.
Quotes Quotes Quotes!
“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love.” - Henry Drummond
“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” - Mother Teresa
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” - Lao Tzu
“Love is the emblem of eternity: it confounds all notion of time: effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end.” - Germaine De Stael
“Love is the true means by which the world is enjoyed: our love to others, and others' love to us.” - Thomas Trahern
“Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” - Franklin P. Jones
“It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.” - William Thackeray
Please Join Us!
Simply send us an email at joyofdoingthingsbadly@yahoo.com and have your subject read: I want some JOY! Hope to hear from you!