All You Have to Do Is Ask

Recently, some city workers came to clean up the foliage around my house. As I watched them feed branches into the woodchipper, a thought occurred to me: those wood chippings would make a great mulch for the garden (they also had some logs for the firepit). Why not ask the workers if they’d mind my filling up a garden bag or two? I thought.

But I hesitated. Asking for wood refuse embarrassed me. The truth is, asking for almost anything embarrasses me. 

I know some people who have no problem asking for things. They are the types that always seem to get the best deals, the upgrades, the freebies. Maybe you’re one of them. I am not.

I have solicited the odd upgrade. Before they started charging extra for everything, airlines would give front row seats to anyone who asked (a great comfort for long-limbed folk like myself). All you had to do was ask for it. The good old days!

Upgrades, freebies, and sweet deals are all great. But there’s something even better: Help. Collaboration enables humans to accomplish truly great things; it makes us greater than the sum of us parts. 

I couldn’t have done this podcast without the twenty or so talented and generous individuals that agreed to sit through interviews with me. My guests have taught me so much. Even better, they’ve allowed me to share that learning with the world through the podcast. I am amazed and grateful for the help I’ve received on this project; I couldn’t do it without the generosity of others.  

And yet, I still feel uncomfortable about asking people to help me, even when the person is an old friend. The fear of rejection petrifies me. Sometimes it makes me question whether I should continue working on this project. I have to summon a considerable amount of will power to get over this fear. But it’s worth it for the great conversations, teaching, and help I’ve received. 

The idea of asking for help makes many of us feel uncomfortable. It implies a deficiency of some kind, like we can’t handle our own stuff. We often hesitate to ask for help for fear that it makes us seem incapable.

The truth is that accomplishing great things requires assistance from others. The super-rich know this: They found billion-dollar companies that attract super smart people to help them travel to space.

I don’t have billions of dollars. You probably don’t either. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get the help we need. Most of us regular people don’t need to go to space. Sometimes we just need a listening ear, a ride to the airport, or help on a project that is near and dear to our hearts. Whatever it is, often the only thing standing between us and getting the help we need is our own feelings of inadequacy, our fear of rejection and looking stupid.

This fear makes us perceive others as unhelpful. Research suggests people often underestimate the willingness of others to help. Even worse, if we think those around us are unhelpful, it may make us less helpful ourselves. What goes around truly does come around.

Humans are helpful animals. We depend on others. Human beings survived, evolved, and flourished because of cooperation. The ability to learn from others enabled our species to adapt to harsh climates and develop complex cultures and social organizations. Unfortunately, our dependency on others goes hand in hand with anxiety about status and the health of our relationships.

About seventy-five percent of the people I asked for podcast interviews said yes, a testament to the fact that people want to help. It makes us feel good about ourselves.

The other twenty-five percent? It’s true, some people say ‘no’. And that’s okay. Their reasons are understandable. It doesn’t mean they wouldn’t help if they could. I never got my free mulch and firewood. The worker said his boss would object to him giving away city property. It didn’t ruin my day. More importantly, I didn’t shy away from an opportunity to make my day.

So don’t be afraid to ask for things – especially help. It might make your day, ignite a new passion, or enable you to accomplish something that you’ve been struggling with on your own. You never know! All you have to do is ask.

8 Life Lessons from our Dogs

A couple months ago I finally gave into my wife and agreed to get a dog. Marshmallow, our dog, has been a surprisingly fun addition to my life.

There are lots of fringe benefits to owning a dog. It gets you outside at least once a day, and and you have a friend that just hangs around waiting to play, or do tricks, or get a little TLC. Also, you can speak gibberish, say the dumbest things in the world, and your dog looks at you like you’re Socrates. In fact, research indicates that dog owners are healthier, happier, and more social.  

However, dogs can also challenge us. They can be messy, needy, disobedient, or just an added responsibility to our overburdened lives. That said, it is these challenges that teach us and foster growth.

Marshmallow continues to challenge us. She’s stubborn, and at times insolent and manipulative, but she’s also loving, patient, and fun. As I struggle to teach her to roll over, she struggles to teach me how to communicate with her, and a number of other things. I’ve learned a lot from her already, and not just about dogs. In fact, our pet dogs teach us some incredible life lessons. These are some share-worthy ones:

Leadership: On the latest episode of the podcast, professional dog trainer Charly Vu told me that the most important thing to know about dogs is that they are pack animals. They want leadership, and so it’s up to us to be a leader for our dogs.

What does that mean?

Well, it means setting boundaries and being willing to say “no” to our dogs when they are putting themselves or others at risk (or doing something annoying). Being a leader also means making sure your dog has enough food, exercise, affection, and mental stimulation to thrive. In sum, it’s about looking out for your dog, just as you do for the people who look up to you.

Humility: Dog ownership encourages us to think of ourselves as part of a pack (even if it is a pack of two), and to consider the well-being of everyone in the pack. Moreover, individuals in a pack must put the interests of the pack above their own.

Dogs also teach us how to follow when others lead, especially when it is in the best interests of the pack. Humility is reciprocal.

A good leader will be humble enough to recognize when it is time to let another take the lead. A good leader is also willing to do the dirty work. As a dog owner, nothing says humility like bending over to pick up poop in minus twenty weather.

Indigenous teachings remind us of the importance of humility, as exemplified by the wolf.

Fun: To encourage good behaviour in a dog, Charly tells his clients to “make it fun” for the dog. That means using play, treats, affection, excitement, or whatever motivates the dog.

Most dogs love to have fun. They live in the moment; they chill when nothing’s going on, then play ‘til they drop when it’s party time. In fact, they’ll even eat until they puke.

They are hedonists, walking FOMO. As such, dogs remind us to enjoy life when it’s good, and to try our best to make life fun when it’s not. It’s infinitely endearing to be around a creature that gets super excited at the mention of one word, “walk”, even if it’s something we do several times a day.

One of the original viral cat videos was a cat deciding to be more like a dog.

Clarity: As Charly says, it is important to use as few words as possible when teaching commands to your dog. Dogs can only learn so much human language, so we have to be mindful to choose our words wisely, and not to drown out the signal with unnecessary words. Truly, this is the essence of clarity.

Of course, there is also the other end of the spectrum, when we can talk gibberish to our dogs and they’ll respond as long as it is in the right tone. This highlights the importance of non-verbal communication.

At heart, having a dog reminds us that there are some times when verbal austerity is required, and then others when we can just say whatever silly thing pops into our head.

Graceful Aging: Our dogs are like children that we outlive. Naturally, there is both sadness and joy in this.

Sadness, of course, in that one day we will have to grieve the loss of our dog (a teachable moment on its own). And joy, in that we get to witness the entire lifespan of a being in all its glories and indignities.

One lesson I think we can take from our dogs here is how to stay young at heart, even as our physical and mental capabilities fade. That is, to continue to take pleasure in the simple things – good meals, love and affection, and of course, a nice walk.

Nurture: The evolution of dog breeds is fascinating! The fact that everything from a Chihuahua to a St. Bernhard has the same wolfen ancestor highlights the influence that nurture can have on a living creature.

On a micro level, this means that we can influence the nature of our dogs (up to a point, of course) with nurture. This doesn’t mean that we should try to mold our dogs to our whims. On the contrary, we ought to let our dogs be themselves.

Dogs have personalities that may be as varied as humans. Like humans, most dogs are good boys and girls at heart. As long as they’re provided with a safe home, love, nourishment, fun, and learning, they will turn out fine.

Purpose: Dogs can be trained to do amazing things, from pulling sleds to herding sheep. When given a job, a dog will focus on that one thing. For this reason, they have amazing work ethic. For example, Marshmallow still thinks she has to guard our home at night (she’s part sheepdog and lived on a farm before we adopted her).

I wonder if doing a job gives dogs a sense of purpose, like it does for us humans. For most pet dogs, that purpose is to make their humans happy. With that in mind, there’s a lesson for us: Our purpose in life is to make the lives of those around us better.

Patience: Charly identifies lack of patience as the biggest mistake he made when learning to become a professional dog trainer. I’ve lost my patience with Marshmallow on more than one occasion. But I’ve also learned patience from her.

I’ve learned not to overreact when she doesn’t obey a command. Instead, I try to take a deep breath and work with Marshmallow rather than trying to control her. This is a lesson I hope to take into other areas. Certainly, life can be frustrating (especially when we don’t have as much control as we’d like). However, with a dog, it’s been a little less so.

Have you learned any lessons from your own dogs (or other pets)? I’d love to hear them! Don’t forget to check out the latest episode on how to train a dog. If you enjoyed it, please rate and review. And don’t forget: There’s a teacher in every dog you meet!

37 Life Lessons

A few days ago I turned 37. It was a pretty uneventful birthday (40 - 3!). I did spend it with friends and family – safely, of course – so I feel lucky. Based on a blog post I read earlier this year, “68 Bits of Unsolicited Advice”, I thought it would be a fun exercise to come up with as many life lessons as my age (or as many as I could think of if I didn’t hit 37). They are personal reminders to myself for the upcoming year. I post them in case you might benefit as well:

1.     It’s a privilege to be able to complain about old age. There’s a reason why we celebrate birthdays and New Year’s Eve. It marks our survival of another year. A relief and a joy: that’s what growing old ought to feel like.

2.     Nothing is fixed, everything is in flux – you are not your thoughts, nor your emotions, nor the person you were yesterday, or the day before, or the time you cried when the entire class called you Spaceboy. Circumstances can change, people can change, the world can change.

3.     We have less control over outcomes than we think we do, which is why outcomes can be misleading, so it is best to avoid evaluation based on outcomes. Instead, focus on the process.

4.     We have more control over ourselves than we think we do – our thought processes, our habits, our knowledge, our abilities, our health. Gandhi’s oft-cited phrase “be the change you want to see in the world” hints at this.

5.     It takes work. We invest so much in our careers and our jobs, and then skimp out on ourselves even though self-improvement pays dividends in other areas (our jobs, relationships, hobbies, etc).

6.     We are more emotional than rational.

7.     “Judge not lest ye be judged” does not mean what you think it does. When we judge others we are really judging ourselves. Not judging others will lead to less self-judgement.

8.     Unless you are a trial lawyer or in a formal debate, you never really ‘win’ an argument (I love to argue, so this is a hard lesson to swallow).

9.     Nobody is right 100% of the time, nor wrong 100%. This is liberating. Everyone is fallible, including me, including you. You don’t have to be right all the time, only when it matters. You get to decide when it matters.

10.  Absolutes corrupt absolutely. Being so wedded to an opinion, an ideology, a worldview, or whatever is one way to ensure that you will be wrong. Doubt, skepticism and questioning lead to truth, not blind faith. This is also a warning against the hubris of the expert.

11.  As we age, we become better at subtraction, which eventually serves us more than addition. We learn to subtract the unnecessary – information, words, possessions, duties, worries, etc.

12.  Knowing when to say ‘enough’ is an underrated skill.

13.  Use fewer words. Be comfortable with silence.

14.  Patience.

15.  Moments of great personal transformation are usually those in which we discover who we truly are.

16.  Experience is your best teacher. And it’s another reason to celebrate growing old.

17.  Extrinsic motivations (money, grades, likes, follows etc.) become ends in themselves. If you’re not careful, you will end up chasing these things instead of your original goals.

18.  Money can bring freedom, but it can also enslave. There is a reason most stoics came from money. In material abundance, freedom requires material self-denial. In material scarcity, freedom requires enjoying what you have (like the Epicureans).

19.  Take yourself seriously, but only inwardly.

20.  It’s impossible to know everything. The trick is determining what you need to know and how to find out.

21.  Learn how to make a great shot, you will impress the other players. Learn how to make a great pass, the other players will want to play with you.

22.  You learn a lot more by playing dumb than you do by playing smart. Don’t let your ego get in the way of your learning. Anytime you decide to learn something new, you’re going to suck at it and/or be dumb. Be humble. Be an amateur ;)

(At this point I started running out of ideas, so I drew on the podcast. Forgive the shameless plugs).

23.   Put your phone down and you’ll have the time to accomplish great things. Deb, from episode one, is able to create beautiful furniture, birdhouses, and more, in part, because she does not have social media accounts. Your most valuable resource is your attention.

24.  Don’t be afraid to take risks because no matter how big the mistake is, “everything is correctable”, as Rob tells us in episode two.

25.  Classics never go out of style, as Krystian argued in our men’s fashion episode. Stick to the classics and you can’t go wrong – classic fashions, recording artists, movies, books, etc. are called “classics” for a reason. They’ve survived and will survive longer (otherwise known as the Lindy effect). Also, older clothes are more comfortable.

26.  Quantity in first drafts; quality in final products. Take lots of pictures, find the really good ones, and then work on identifying what makes them really good, as Layla explained in our photography episode. Like I tell my writing students: You improve your writing by editing. Work on your filter.

27.  You don’t need to study something in school to get good at it, or even build a career in it, as Spencer reminded us in the computer programming episode. This is antithetical to my career as a college professor, but it’s also the ethos of this podcast.

28.  Sometimes getting things right is just about figuring out one or two key details. Then everything else falls into place. In vegetable gardening, this is making sure you have good soil, as I learned from Camille in episode six. If you’ve got that covered (and enough sun and water) the rest is easy.

29.  Perfect the process and make your environment work for you. This is the idea of mise en place, exemplified by the little bowls that Monica of episode seven uses to organize her ingredients before cooking (a trick she picked up in chef school).

30.  Trial and error is a masterful self-teaching method. This involves not being afraid to fail, taking time to reflect on what works and what doesn’t, and trying enough times until you find what does work. Our guests from episode eight learned woodworking, small business management, and van living with this method. 

31.  Breath in. Breath out.

32.  For everyone, there are some things that come easy, and some things that come hard. Most people will avoid doing the things that come hardest. However, at some point, to fulfill a goal or a dream, or simply to get something you want, you will have to do something that does not come easy. In fact, you may even have to start from the beginning to achieve your goals, as our episode nine guest did. It takes immense courage and humility to do this. And if you give up, that’s okay. It’s an indication that whatever you were after just wasn’t worth it. Let it go. These moments will reveal what is really important to you, so don’t be afraid to try difficult things. But don’t feel bad about quitting either. Some things just aren’t worth it. And then at some point, you’ll discover something that is worth the trouble.

33.  Act locally. Learn about your community (like Enrique, from episode ten), and what resources are available, such as plants. Plants can do amazing things. We don’t learn enough about plants and nature, which is partly why we treat the environment like a garbage disposal.

34.  Learning is generational wealth. Most of what we learn comes from our parents, whether it’s how to cook a holiday turkey, how to be a good person, or how to raise our own children. New approaches or technologies come along that allow us to augment the methods of the previous generation. In this sense, the intergenerational wealth of learning compounds.

35.  Break from conventional wisdom that doesn’t work for you. Glen Shackleton from episode thirteen threw out the HR playbook for hiring and training employees. Instead, he was able to build an awesome sense of community within his company because he figured out what worked for him.

36.  We’re all going through some shit, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.

37.  Preaching is easy, practicing is difficult. I’ve lost count of the number of politicians that told everyone to stay home, only to be caught at a family gathering, the cottage, St. Bart’s, or somewhere else they weren’t supposed to be. Life lessons mean nothing if we don’t put them to work, and that is by far the hardest part. 

Learning makes life interesting. It gives us something to work towards, no matter what else is going on in our life or the world. Whatever happens in my 37th year, I’ll learn from it; that’s definitely something to look forward to!

A Case for Learning During COVID [+ Things You Can Learn]

By Mariana O’Connor

The second wave of COVID is imminent. Many countries have returned to lockdown restrictions, and others seem to be heading that way. Although many of us would prefer otherwise, we are bound to be spending a lot more time at home.

It may seem dreadful to be locked in and missing out on the things that we take for granted: time with friends and family, dining out, hanging out with colleagues, sports and hobbies. All of those things we love are no longer available to us.  

We could sit and grieve – perhaps we should – since the things that we love are getting ripped from our lives.

However, once we are done grieving and feeling bad about ourselves, we should realize that we are getting something in return. Even though we didn’t ask for this, we are getting time in return.

A double-edged sword, really, because although every adult complains about not having enough time, having too much time seems daunting - and maybe a little boring.

There’s a reason why “Bored in The House” was a TikTok sensation

What are we supposed to do with this time?

Well, it’s time to learn the things you’ve always wanted to learn but never had the time. In fact, the OECD found that a lack of time and scheduling conflicts were the most cited barriers to participation in adult learning.

I bet there are a few things that you considered learning. Whether it’s a new hobby, upgrading a skill, maybe something to express yourself creatively – now is your time to learn.  

If you are considering learning a new skill, first of all, know that you are not alone. The first lockdown saw a significant increase in online learning platforms.

So, what are people learning?

A very uncomfortable reality of this pandemic is that it accelerated the rate at which some jobs became obsolete. Also, many sectors and jobs might take a long time to recover after COVID.  

So, professional upskilling and career changes are top of mind for a lot of people when they consider learning something new. Tech courses such as programming, data science, graphic design and advanced excel have become increasingly popular in the past months.

Also, since more people have started to work remotely, they have turned to professional and personal development courses. For example the top three courses on LinkedIn learning are: 1) Time Management, 2) Strategic Thinking and, 3) Remote Work Foundations.

Some people have found that there’s no time like the present to get those important money skills. In Canada, the CPA (Charter Professional Accountants) released a free financial literacy program – which includes important life skills like budgeting, financial planning and taxes.

Of course, not everyone wants to add a challenging course to their already challenging life. Many prefer to have an outlet, a hobby or something that will bring a little bit of joy during trying times.

If this is you… we have some suggestions.

Early this year we made a poll to find out what people were interested in learning. These are some of the most popular answers:

1.     Languages

46% of respondents said that they would like to learn a new language. Let’s be honest, learning a new language is hard but it’s so rewarding.

Learning a new language makes your brain stronger, as it involves using the left and right sides of the brain simultaneously. This results in language learners becoming better decision-makers, multitaskers and communicators.  

The hardest part is choosing one language. If you need inspiration, next time you are planning to watch something on Netflix, pick a show in a different language or listen to music from a different country.

You can also learn a programming language, which has become a very desirable skill in the job market. If you have a knack for technology or are looking to start a profitable new career, this is something to look into.

There are platforms like codecademy that have both free and affordable classes to get you started. Also, many programmers managed to teach themselves through practice, reading blogs and watching YouTube videos.

Let us know in the comments if you have a language you’d like to learn.

2.     Art (Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, etc.)

Art was the third most popular learning subject from our poll. 51% of respondents said that they’d like to learn how to make art – including, sculpture, painting, drawing, etc.  

Like language, practicing an art can significantly enrich your life. Studies found that learning art can train our brains to have better memory and attention skills.

Also - and importantly during COVID times – art students can develop a positive mindset that encourages resilience and optimism. Overall, doing creative things makes us happier, and benefits our connections with each other and ourselves.

If you’re not sure of which medium you’d like to learn and need inspiration, go on Instagram and follow the hashtag #arttherapy or #artprojects. Discover artists and art projects that you’re interested in and let us know which one you’ve decided to try.

Mari Andrew’s gorgeous Instagram account has been an inspiration - she also has classes on illustration and storytelling on Skillshare

There are also platforms like Skillshare that have affordable online workshops taught by artists and creators. You can find courses such as animation, design, photography, writing, etc.

3.     DIY Projects

Our second most popular response was DIY Projects with 54% of respondents saying they’d like to learn to make more DIY things. There are so many projects to take on if you put your time and effort into it.

Engaging in DIY projects has its own great benefits. It will benefit you financially, mentally and perhaps even spiritually.

For one, it will help with your finances. Learning to make home décor items, or fixing your own plumbing or furniture, could save you a fortune in the long run.

To take it even further, if you get very good at your new craft, you could even start a new source of income. Whether it’s through selling your DIY crafts on Etsy, or becoming a DIY influencer.

 In case you are wondering how DIY projects can benefit you mentally and spiritually, let me throw a little bit of Psych 101 at you. It’s interesting, I promise!

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a happiness researcher with a superhero backstory that led him to study happiness. He developed the term “flow state”, which is the state when people are the most happy, and even feel self-actualization.

This flow state does not just come around – it is something that happens when we are completely absorbed by an activity in a way that nothing else matters. However, this activity must be both challenging but achievable -not too easy, but also not so hard that it brings you anxiety.

Let’s be honest, we could all use a little bit more happiness and motivation in our lives these days. So why not invest our time in something that can bring us this state of flow.

Developing the skills to work on DIY projects can induce this state of flow. Whether it is making your own personal care products, building a deck or making a birdhouse – keep yourself challenged and motivated.

4.     Cooking or Baking

The majority of our respondents (62%) said that they would like to learn how to Cook or Bake during COVID. This was definitely felt when suddenly flour, yeast and mother dough became scarce in the supermarkets. Everyone suddenly wanted to bake sourdough.

With limitations on dining out and a tighter budget, cooking at home became more important. And let’s be honest, we can only have so much mac and cheese and ramen noodles.

Whether it is the delicious pad thai you get for lunch, or the amazing gnocchi you look forward to on your anniversary night - it is time to hone those cooking skills. 

Cooking is also fascinating; there is a reason why Gordon Ramsey and Julia Child are household names. There’s a reason why cooking shows like The Great British Bake Off and Top Chefs are watched by millions worldwide.

For one, food is literally the fuel that keeps us alive. Also, it is an important part of our culture, our traditions and our lifestyles.

If you need more convincing about the importance of cooking, you need to watch this TedTalk

Learning how to cook/bake can impact your finances, your health and your overall life. While eating at home regularly can save you a pretty penny, you’re also likely to use less less salt, fats, and sugars than restaurants do.

 Cooking and eating also brings people together. You can prepare meals with your family or partner, and create a fun experience or tradition. Also, who doesn’t love sharing a meal with that friend or family member who is an amazing cook?

There are hundreds of thousands of blogs and videos that teach you how to cook. Also, platforms like Pinterest are a great way to find recipes. If you are old school, buy recipe books that will walk you through techniques and ingredients to get a full education.

The most important thing is to keep trying and eventually you’ll get better and become more creative in the kitchen.

Are You Ready to Learn Something New?

We hope this post inspired you to finally pick up that skill you always wanted or learn the things that you’re curious about. While we may have uncontrollable restrictions and limitations coming our way, we have an endless capacity to learn.

In case you’re still in doubt, remember:

-       Learning new things will keep your brain young and fit

-       It will change your perspective on the world and yourself

-       It will make you physically and mentally stronger

-       It will bring you joy at the time when you need it most

Make sure you tune in to the Amateur Podcast to listen to the stories and tips of how people learned to do what they do best.

8 Tips for Starting a Mindfulness Practice Today!

As a college teacher, I encounter a lot of stressed-out students. Between exams, assignments, finances, smartphone addiction, climate change, and a precarious future, there’s a lot on the minds of young people today. 

I recently started doing a short mindfulness exercise in my class to help alleviate the stress. I give every student two Smarties (or M&M’s for you non-Canadians). I tell them to eat one right away. Then, I turn their attention to the second Smartie. I tell them to think about how it feels in their hands, how it smells, how it looks. I tell them to put it on their tongue and think about how it feels, how it tastes, how hot or cold it is, etc., before finally instructing them to slowly start chewing the Smartie.

Afterwards, I ask the students how the experiences of eating the first and second Smartie were different. Many students say they enjoy the second Smartie more, but some admit to discovering a newfound dislike for the synthetic taste. Either way, they arrive at the same conclusion: They were aware of eating the second Smartie, truly experiencing it in a way that they did not experience the first Smartie.

I noticed that the students were also more engaged in my lesson. They were more attentive, calmer, more talkative, more present.

I learned that “trick” from Janet Melo Thaiss, my guest for episode 9 of the podcast . On top of being an educator, Janet is also a photographer and a branding coach. I wanted to talk to Janet to find out how she developed her mindfulness habit because I want to practice what I preach to my students. I also want to reap the many benefits, including better productivity and resiliency, and lower stress. I was thrilled when Janet agreed to talk to me for the podcast. Throughout our conversation, she made me feel super confident about starting a formal mindfulness practice (aka meditation) of my own. Here are some of my key takeaways: 

1.     Start small: Ten minutes of formal mindfulness practice a day will give you all of the benefits, but starting out at ten minutes can be tough. Janet recommends starting with a minute, or even thirty seconds, and working your way up to ten minutes (or more).

2.     Set your intention: This is what formal mindfulness practice is all about. For example, you make a commitment to focus on your breath for a certain period of time. Setting a timer is a good way to make it your official mindfulness time.

3.     Let your mind wander: Drawing your attention back to your breath is the practice that will increase your awareness in everyday life. For that reason, it’s okay if you start thinking about something else, or get distracted during meditation. Noticing when this happens is an important first step in being able to refocus on the present.

4.     Let go of expectations: There is no perfect way to practice mindfulness. It’s not something that one can be good at, and according to Janet we should be careful not to apply judgements about whether or not we are improving. We’ll notice when our mindfulness practice starts to work.

5.     Make it habitual: Janet recommends doing our formal mindfulness practice either first thing in the morning or the last thing at night and making it a part of our daily routine. Eventually, it becomes just another thing you do, like brushing your teeth. And when you think you’re too busy to meditate, that’s when you need it the most!

6.     Props are not necessary: You don’t need candles or a mantra or a cushion. You can meditate sitting, standing, walking, or even lying down (although there is a danger of falling asleep with this last position). What matters most is the intention. By trying different approaches, you can find what works best for you.

7.     Experiment: Janet brings a playful approach to her mindfulness practice. She recommends trying to be mindful when doing different things, whether it’s running, washing dishes, or eating, just to see how different the experience is. You might be surprised by what you discover. I certainly was when I tried running without music! I was much more aware of my surroundings (and my headphones stopped falling off, which was a nice bonus).

8.     Don’t give up: Many people have trouble with this last one. I underestimated how difficult it really is to be alone with my thoughts. When will this damn minute end? I kept thinking. But then the timer went off. I opened my eyes and felt a bit calmer. I did not feel the urge to reach for my phone or get started on my work for the day. I took another breath and felt the sun’s warmth on my face.

I look forward to continuing this newfound practice. I hope you are excited about developing your own meditation practice, and I hope you enjoyed episode 9 of the podcast. Feel free to comment below with any thoughts or feedback you might have.

Mise en Place: Making your environment work for you is a key ingredient in mastering a skill.

As most teachers will tell you, there is a lot of prep work involved in the job. When you are your own teacher, you have to do the prep work. This involves ensuring that everything is in it’s right place, otherwise known as mise en place.

One of the things I remember the most about working for Rob Kim (my guest on episode 2 of the podcast) is his van. A contractor’s van is basically a toolbox on wheels. It contains all tools and materials needed for a home-renovation job. Rob’s van was meticulously organized. Shelves along the sides housed the smaller tools, which were organized using repurposed paint cans and other recycled containers. Even the paint brushes were organized into different uses (some were for oil paints, older ones were for dusting). The order that things were placed in the truck mattered: Drop sheets were always closest to the door because they were the first thing to come out and the last thing to go in the van. 

            When you worked for Rob, you learned that there was a specific process for every task, no matter how minor. There was a certain way to set up, clean up, arrange your tools, sand, paint, etc. Even folding drop sheets was a kind of art in itself – a task best done by two people coming together with each of the long ends of the drop sheet. As a youth this all struck me as fussy, tedious, and unnecessary. Over time, I started to understand how important it is to perfect your processes.

            “Mise en place” is a French culinary term that roughly translates as “put in place”. Monica Sarkar (my guest for episode 7) introduced me to this term. It’s the first thing you learn at culinary school, where students have to bring their own sets of small to medium sized bowls. It describes the process of chopping all your fresh ingredients, which are then placed separately into each of the bowls (there are other uses for the bowls as well). The bowls are important to ensuring that everything in its right place before the job is even begun. This is the essence of mise en place.  

            Mise en place extends even beyond the physical. In Episode 5, Spencer Kelly compared the good coders set up their computers to the way carpenters will lay out their tools while working. Everything is in its right place. Such fussiness ensures that the work flows as smoothly as possible. It makes it so that you don’t have to think as much about the next step, and the one after that, and so on. 

            I’m still learning about this important ingredient in perfecting a skill. On the programming episode, Spencer issued me a challenge: to clear out old emails from my inbox. Why? Clutter is the enemy of good mise en place. Imagine yourself reaching for a bowl of freshly chopped onions and knocking over a bottle of soy sauce, or stepping off a ladder into a tray of fresh paint (I may or may not have done one or both of those things).  Removing distraction also helps. I am much more productive at my job when my phone is charging. If it’s nearby, I’ll reach for it whenever I come upon a difficult problem that needs considerable focus to solve. 

          Another reason why mise en place is so effective is that it encourages you to visualize the process of completing something from start to finish. In my interview with Rob, he told me that “to do a job well, I have to be able to see the entire job from start to finish." Visualizing, step-by-step, from start to finish enables you to shape your environment in a way that works for you, rather than against you. This is what mise en place is all about. You have to know all the ingredients that are going to go into the dish beforehand, otherwise you might forget a key ingredient (guilty), or burn your food while you frantically chop a jalapeño (also guilty!). You use the little bowls so that you don’t spill diced garlic all over your kitchen floor (yep, I’ve done that too). Mise en place makes the process so easy that, as Monica says, you can drink wine and chat with your guests while you’re cooking! 

            In order to harness this secret ingredient in learning a skill, think about the environment in which you work: how can you shape it to make the process as smooth as possible? What distractions or obstacles are getting in your way? What prep work is involved? What are the different steps involved and how could you improve these? What could you do to clear your head so that you can focus? 

            On that note, we have an upcoming episode about mindfulness. I’m hoping to learn how to declutter my mind, find stillness, and improve my focus. Stay tuned for more details and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.

The beauty of failure

(and other things I learned from woodworkers, entrepreneurs, and van lifers Candace and Dan)

Dan Alonso & Candace Sherrif are living some version of the millennial dream. They run a thriving woodworking company in cottage country paradise, Muskoka. In the off season they travel across Canada in their live-in van. How did they do it? That’s what I wanted to find out on our last episode!

         Dan’s innovative mind clicked when he saw “slash piles” of unused and discarded wood while tree planting. He started making and selling charcuterie boards shortly thereafter, which is how he met Candace, when she bought his first board. With her design background and talent, she helped Dan grow the company into what it is today.

         Of course, they were both quick to inform me that Dan also does design work, and Candace also does woodworking. In other words, they don’t just specialize in one area but rather they pick up new skills when needed. They’re true learners, or Amateur heroes, as I like to think of them. Indeed, they are both self-taught woodworkers, entrepreneurs, and now van-life enthusiasts. I couldn’t wait to learn from them. Here are some of the key insights I gleaned from our conversation:

1.     Failure is necessary and inevitable: This is something that comes up again and again from my conversations with self-taught individuals. They wouldn’t have become an “expert” in their craft without dropping the ball a few times. The key is that they keep picking up the ball again and again until they get it right. “The biggest piece of advice I would say is you need to be able to be okay with failing,” Dan says. Failure is necessary and inevitable.  So be okay with it, learn from it, and move on: Keeping on picking up that ball. Which leads to our next lesson…

2.     Trial-and-error is learning by innovation: This is how learning from failure works. You try something, it doesn’t work, you think about what you need to do differently, and you do it again. Throughout our conversation, Dan and Candace credited trial and error for just about every skill they picked up, including woodworking, business development, and even van life. The trial-and-error  method really works, it’s just a matter of trying. And as I’ve learned, if you don’t think you’re ready yet, you’re wrong. Dan agrees: “Jump before you look kind of mentality,” as he calls it. But of course, you have to “make sure you do learn from your mistakes because if you don’t you’re just gonna repeat.”

3.     Find beauty in imperfection: When looking for the right piece of wood, Candace says that the ones that have “what would be deemed some flaws or imperfections, those are the pieces we love.” Similarly, when creating their products, they don’t sweat the imperfections: “Because we are more focused on the artistic side, I think we have a different way of looking at things sometimes and if it’s not a perfect straight angle, it’s okay with us.” The most beautiful things in life are imperfect: art, human beings, relationships. Flaws are an integral part of the human experience. At the very least, this gives people a tolerance for it; I think many of us even have an appreciation for it. Flawlessness is boring, while flaws give things personality. Flaw makes the good parts even better and adds to the overall picture. The same is true with van life, which “can be a beautiful mountain view or a Walmart parking lot.”

4.     Put the cart before the horse: I was surprised to find that Candace and Dan started selling apparel before their woodworking products really took off. But because their apparel became popular, their brand spread, and with it, so did word of mouth. I think the lesson here is that just because something was done a certain way or in a certain order in the past, doesn’t always mean you can’t do things differently. This is an important part of learning by innovation. It’s all about trying different things and seeing how they work. And don’t sweat the haters. There will always be someone out there who thinks you’re doing it the “wrong” way. The truth is that the only wrong way is the one that doesn’t work for you. On that note…

5.     Be yourself: In a world where everyone is trying present perfect images of themselves on social media, people crave authenticity more than ever. As Candace said, “what we do is very authentic, it’s very us, so…the best sales pitch is when we just are naturally talking to a customer and telling them about ourselves, telling them our story.” Most of us know this, which is why it has become a cliché. Unfortunately, we often try too hard to push a version of ourselves that we think people want, when what people really want is version You-point-O. Also, when you are truly yourself you can…

6.     Find your rhythm: How can local business owners just take off in their van for three months? Candace and Dan found and developed a rhythm that works for them. They know what times of the year they are going to be really busy and also the times when they can slow down. They’ve integrated aspects of their work life into their leisure: Their van became a travelling showroom for them, and they brought inspiration (and wood) back from their trek out west.  In this way, they’ve made their work a part of who they are. And they’ve worked rewards into their rhythm. Which brings me to my last point…

7.     Take your leisure seriously: This is your reward for all the hard work you do. Make it count. Whether it’s a van trip, a beach vacation, or playing catch with your child, these are the moments that make the work worthwhile. This is your life. My last blog post was devoted to just this topic so I will leave it at that.

I hope you learned as much (or maybe more) than I did from Candace and Dan. Feel free to comment and let me know if I missed anything.

How to Learn During Our Free Time: Enjoyment is the missing piece of the puzzle!

Covid is making us rethink our relationship to work and leisure. Forgotten pastimes like jigsaw puzzles are popular again. Former pipe dreams now seem possible, maybe even likely: A universal basic income, a four-day work week, millions of us working from home permanently. Perhaps, the best consequence is our rediscovery of how great leisure is; how different our lives can be with more time for family, for pleasure and relaxation, and for learning.

Covid is (I hope) making us realize how important it is to enjoy our leisure. The truth is that if we don’t enjoy it, we get little from it: little rest, little fulfillment, and little learning. To truly accomplish something in our free time, we have to enjoy it. And that means taking the focus off of the accomplishment and placing it on the enjoyment. It means doing things because we want to, not because we feel pressure to “maximize” our time or be “productive”. 

I had to remind myself recently why I started this podcast. I did it because I love to learn, and I love talking to interesting people about their passions. Sometimes even hobbies can become a grind if you’re not careful. There are things I didn’t think would be so much work when I started this project about a year ago: Reaching out to potential guests, growing an audience, creating and editing content. It’s the kind of thing that can get stressful, especially when my full-time job prevents me from working on the podcast as much as I’d like to. So, I’ve refocused my attention on the aspects that I enjoy most – the interaction and learning that I’ve discovered in doing this project. I’ve met some interesting people, had great conversations, and learned a ton! The result is that I stopped worrying about things like how many people listen to the show, and started appreciating the concrete benefits that come from it, like personal growth.  

Enjoyment is a major part of my teaching & learning philosophy. From my first day in the classroom I’ve seen how enjoyment can be a major learning booster. I’ve seen kids who barely spoke a word of English shout out words like “father,” “swimming”, or “cucumber” to score a point while classmates cheered them on.  I’ve seen students who told me they hated writing at the beginning of the semester create an inspiring blog, video, or email because they got to choose a topic and genre that interested them. And recently, I’ve heard guests of my podcast talk about how much they loved to do the things they learned, whether it’s cooking, coding, or improving houses. Enjoyment is a secret ingredient in successful learning. 

I think our conflicted relationship with leisure is another reason why many of us don’t enjoy the things we do in our free time. It’s a moral framework that capitalism inherited from Christianity: Hard work is right and good, while idleness is evil, bad, or just plain not good. Business speak has even neutered the vocabulary we use to talk about our free time (ex. “maximize your time”, “be productive”). The resulting pathologizing of leisure is not good. Much of the work we do nowadays is not useful (or as some would say, “bullshit”). And much more of the work done in modern societies is done to support idleness.  Bertrand Russell noticed this nearly a century ago:

Leisure is essential to civilization, and in former times leisure for the few was rendered possible only by the labors of the many. But their labors were valuable, not because work is good, but because leisure is good. And with modern technic it would be possible to distribute leisure justly without injury to civilization (1932)

The pathologizing of leisure can be seen in contemporary self-guilt over how we’re all supposed to be spending our Coronavirus quarantine time. When we put pressure on ourselves to do something in our free time, we end up disliking it, whether it’s painting, language learning, reading, or whatever, even when it is something that we find enjoyable. 

The bottom line is you’re probably not going to learn something in your FREE time if you don’t find a way to enjoy it. So ask yourself, what do I enjoy about learning and doing x? Or what can I enjoy about it? If you do, you’ll surprise yourself by finding pleasure in unlikely places. For example, since I started gardening, I’ve been looking up at the sky more (to get an idea of the angles from which the sun’s rays hit my plants).

We have to value our leisure as much, if not more than, our labour. My guests on the upcoming episode know how make use of this “work hard, relax hard” mentality. They are successful entrepreneurs who travel across Canada in their van.

Be sure to listen and if you don’t already, subscribe to the podcast (Apple, Spotify, Sticher, Google). And don’t hesitate to drop me a line below or on social media. After all, I’m doing this show to connect with readers such as yourself!

6 Ways to Improve Your Cooking Skills

Cooking is a great life skill - with some practice and guidance we believe you can improve your cooking skills like our guest, Monica. Photo via Unsplash

I have a love-hate relationship with cooking. On one hand, it can be a fun and relaxing activity. I love soaking up the aromas with a glass of red wine and a good playlist. On the other hand, cooking can be a chore. I’m not the kind of person who can just take whatever’s in the fridge and turn it into something delicious (luckily, my wife can!).

Like many amateur cooks, I rely on recipes. Which is why I want to get better at cooking. I want to be able to whip together a delicious meal in twenty minutes without having to run to Longo’s for last-minute ingredients. I want to be able to create my own recipes.

So, I talked to someone who taught herself how to cook at the age of ten. For most of us, our earliest cooking experience is of learning how to make something with our parents or grandparents. This is not the case with Monica Sarkar. She stepped up as the family chef with just a handful of cookbooks, like Loony Spoons (my first cookbook as well!) and no YouTube. She’s a true Amateur hero!

Talking to Monica, I realized the error of my ways. Cooking is not a chore. Behind every dish we eat, there is history, countless multi-generational hours spent determining the right combination of ingredients and perfecting techniques so that the taste is just right.

Cooking ought to be respected. After all, food is an intimate and integral part of our lives. I’m grateful to Monica for changing my perspective and teaching me how to improve my cooking skills. Here are some of the secret ingredients she shared in our conversation:

1.    Focus on getting really good at one dish: Choose a favourite meal, or one you really want to learn, and focus on perfecting it.

Monica spent hours learning how to make pasta. She found experts in pasta making and watched their videos religiously. She took time to understand the composition of the dish, ordering it at restaurants and figuring out what makes it delicious. She tried cooking it multiple times, learning from her mistakes.

After years of trial and error, like Monica, you’ll get to the point where the dish tastes just the way you want it to!

2.    Preparation makes perfect: Before cooking, it is important to make sure that you understand all the steps involved.

You want to make sure you have all your ingredients chopped and ready before turning on the heat (I can’t count the number of times I’ve forgotten an ingredient because I skipped this step). That’s why having a bunch of different sized bowls is an important tool for the amateur chef’s kitchen.

I admit I was pretty surprised by this answer, but you’ll definitely notice the bowl factor if you watch enough food preparation videos on social media.

Having the right tools can significantly improve your cooking experience. Photo via Unsplash

3.    The tools make the human: Speaking of the little bowls, they come in handy for other purposes, such as ladling sauces, soups, and stews for testing and tasting.

On top of the little bowls, having good kitchen tools makes cooking a lot easier. For example, having a good, sharp chef’s knife will make chopping easier. And having good pans can even make cleaning less of a chore (but whatever you do, stay away from Teflon!)

4.    Taste test: Try the food as you go and make adjustments.

When Monica watched cooking shows after getting cable for the first time, she was amazed to see people cooking without recipes. It was her introduction to the importance of tasting your food and trusting your instincts. This even applies to ingredients, such as the spices in your rack, or the vegetables in your fridge (but don’t taste raw meat, eggs, or flour – obviously!). Tasting our food as we go enables us to get it just right, or if not, to think about what we can do differently the next time to bring it closer to perfection.

Even a simple pasta dish can look like a work of art. Photo via Unsplash

5.    Presentation skills: I used to think food styling was silly, but now I’m wise enough (I hope!) to understand that taste isn’t the only sense that food appeals to.

Just think about how good the word sizzle makes you feel! On this episode, we also found out how to use to our sense of touch to determine whether meat is cooked right. A beautiful plate of food is a heartwarming sight, so it’s worth the extra five minutes to make your meals eye-catching, by throwing in some parsley for a pop of green or adding a smudge of sauce at the edge of the plate. This will also make your food more photogenic, which is an important consideration in the age of social media!

6.    Find mentors: Easier said than done. You could say there are too many recipes out there nowadays, which is why it’s important to find the true teachers.

Cross-referencing different recipes is one way to find the indispensable ingredients in any dish. Make sure the recipes you use are “peer-reviewed”, in other words they’ve been vetted by other amateur chefs. Also, use descriptive language to find the recipes that will give you the results you want (for example, Monica limited her meatball recipes using the word “fluffy”).

On the topic of mentors, find chefs and resources that you can trust, to return to again in the future. Here are some of Monica’s biggest influences:

-       Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

-       Chef John, Food Wishes

-       Famiglia Baldassarre (for pasta making)

-       Sorted Food (bonus cut from the episode)

Like any skill, it is important to remember that there will always be room for improvement. Understanding this helps us embrace the learning journey. If your latest version of pad thai was slightly better than the last, then that’s a major victory! And if it’s worse, then consider it an opportunity to think about what will make it more delicious next time.

Feel free to comment if you feel like I missed anything or if you’d like to add something from your own experience. And be sure to check out some of Monica’s food creations on Instagram (@tmsarkar). Follow us to see how our cooking skills improve as well (@amateurpod)!

Challenge the Amateur Chef Within: 9 accessible recipes from top chefs around the world!

By Mariana O’Connor

Chefs around the world are sharing their recipes: we created a list of the best, most accessible ones for the amateur chef in you!

During these unusual times, people around the world from yoga teachers to chefs are sharing their knowledge with the world.  Cooking and baking have become more popular pastimes during the COVID crises. As we stay home and have less access to the restaurants, cafés and pastry shops we frequented in our daily lives, many of us have become amateur chefs. While supporting local businesses with take-out and delivery services is a great way to contribute to the local economy, cooking at home is more cost-efficient amid mass layoffs and employment uncertainty.

Chefs, cooks, restaurants, and destinations from around the world have risen to the challenge and shared recipes publicly, showcasing their flavours and cultures for you to enjoy at home. As an amateur cook, I am both thrilled and terrified of trying these new recipes. As I scrolled through various dishes, I was intimidated by the obscure processes and ingredients. Especially, since most of the ingredients are quite expensive and/or difficult to find, and frankly I will probably never use them again.

To make the selection process easier, we made a list of the most accessible, rated by theme. We would like to engage the amateur chef in you to challenge yourself and make something delicious!

1.     The Raw Amateur cook recipes

The Raw Amateur Cooks may not feel confident in the kitchen yet, however we see a potential chef in everyone. Photo via Unsplash.

These recipes are ideal for the first-time cook and the ramen-loving students missing a home-cooked meal. The ingredients are inexpensive, easy to find and easy to re-use. 

Chicken and vegetables

Chef Jose Andres – Founder of World Central Kitchen and co-owner at minibar, é, and many others.

In case you haven’t heard about Chef Jose Andres, he is a gem of a man. Aside from being a celebrity chef and owner of a string of successful restaurants, he also founded World Central Kitchen, a not-for-profit organization that provides meals to communities impacted by environmental or other disasters. Today, Chef Jose Andres has been posting his recipes over his Instagram account, featuring his family. This chicken and vegetables recipe is easy, tasty and adaptable to whatever you have in your pantry. After you conquer this recipe, you’ll feel more confident to try other things in the kitchen.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Julien Dugourd – Pastry Chef at La Chèvre D’or

Julien Dugourd is renowned for his creativity in using local ingredients and flavours to create artful masterpieces. That said, these chocolate chip cookies are unpretentious, accessible and mouth-watering. There is nothing as satisfying and heart-warming as homemade chocolate chip cookies!

Arabic Lentil Soup 

Said El Alam – Chef at Emirates Airline

The luxury airline Emirates is well known for its culinary in-flight experiences, changing our perceptions about airline food, one mouth-watering dish at a time. They have recently launched a food channel, where their chefs show you how to make their famous dishes at home. This is a great recipe to try if you want something healthy, delicious and vegan that does not require any cooking experience. The 3-minute video makes the process simple and straight-forward. This recipe gets extra points for easiness, and making the kitchen smell glorious.

2. The medium-rare amateur chef recipes

Medium-Rare Amateur Chefs are those who might not feel as confident in the kitchen but I’m sure there are a couple of dishes they can make to perfection - learn how to make Hong Kong-style Beef Noodles. Photo via Unsplash

These recipes are for those cooks that have ventured into the kitchen and gained some confidence (but also lost it in a few failed experiments). They are willing to accept new culinary challenges. These recipes have more complex processes. However, the ingredients are accessible and likely to be reused.

Tuscan Gnocchi

Alessandro Manfredini – Chef at Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort and Spa

Italians have some of the best-known high-end dishes around the world. Gnocchi is flavourful, hearty and best of all easier to make than other pastas. This tuscan gnocchi recipe only requires 4 ingredients that you can probably find in your pantry, and it does not require any special kitchen equipment. If you are not sure what sauce would go well with your gnocchi, try this very easy pesto sauce or this easy tomato sauce, and pronto!

Pork Belly Udon or Buttermilk Scones

Maddy Goldberg – Cook at Aloette

Maddy Goldberg’s Instagram is amateur cooking gold! In her highlights she gives out her full recipes accompanied by gorgeous pictures. The pork belly udon and the buttermilk scones look slightly challenging but definitely doable. Most importantly, the ingredients will be easy to find and reuse.

Hong Kong Style Stir Fried Beef Noodles

Dan Hong – Chef at Lotus, El Loco, Ms. G’s, etc.

Dan Hong has acquired celebrity status in Australia. Aside from his successful restaurants, the Vietnamese-Australian chef’s charisma can be seen in television shows. His Instagram page displays quick videos on how to make different dishes, with some guest appearances by his adorable daughter. The stir-fried beef noodles definitely stood out, since it has easy to find ingredients and his manner of explaining his process inspires confidence in the kitchen. 

3. Seasoned Amateur Chefs recipes

Seasoned Amateur Chefs know their spices, flavours and techniques - with practice, we can all get there. Image via Unsplash

These recipes are for those that know their way around the kitchen with confidence and are looking to up their technique and their cooking game.

Chicken Biryani

Sapna Anand – Chef Blue Elephant

Chef Sapna Anand shared her recipe for Biryani chicken in her Instagram highlights, and frankly, it’s impossible not to drool over how amazing it looks. The ingredients are easy to find and if you have the time and determination, you too could make this fabulous dish! Make sure you look through her other recipes; there is love in her cooking and maybe you can bring some of that love to your own cooking.

Piri Piri Chicken

Telmo Faria – Chef at Uma Casa 

Piri Piri sauce is one of the most delicious sauces in the world, and now you can learn to make it from Chef Telmo Faria. Released as a segment for an episode of Good Morning America, the chef shares his initiatives to feed frontline workers and his famous Piri Piri chicken recipe. While the ingredients are easy to find, the process seems a little more complicated, so this is a great challenge for those with some cooking experience.

Amalfi Lemon Tart

Theo Randall – Chef at the InterContinental London – Park Lane

While this Amalfi Lemon Tart recipe requires some expertise, it is bound to awe you and your quarantine roomies. The recipe requires many ingredients that you probably have at home, such as butter, sugar and lemons. Meant for the seasoned amateur looking to perfect their baking skills and produce a 5-star dessert.

There you have it fellow amateur chefs! Whichever challenge you chose to take on, we hope that you rise to the occasion to create something delicious this week! Stay tuned for our upcoming episode on cooking (out next Tuesday!), and be sure to comment, like, or share!

Seven Reasons Why You Should Start a Vegetable Garden (Right Meow!)

This post is going to be short and sweet (and savoury!). Hopefully, it will encourage you to listen to the latest episode (if you haven’t already). If you’ve already listened, keep reading too: More motivation is never a bad thing! I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Maybe it’s the dawn of Spring (of course no one told the weather in the GTA). Maybe’s it’s waiting in line to buy groceries. Or maybe it’s a desire to rediscover some long-lost ancestral root. Whatever it is, I now have a ton of reasons why you should start your own vegetable garden:

1.     Food Security: Let’s get the worst one out of the way. If COVID-19 didn’t make you realize how much your subsistence depends on a complex supply chain that is completely out of your control, then you’re forever condemned to the 2010’s, like Bieber and the Kardashians (I hope!) You also depend on grocery retailers and within this system, a number of underpaid workers (all the way from migrant farm labour to your friendly neighbourhood cashier). Growing your own produce is one way you can limit (at least slightly) your reliance on a system that you had no idea was fragile until recently.

2.     Health: Gardening gets you outside in the fresh air. It involves physical labour, such as digging, squatting, and puttering around the yard. It improves your mental health. And it provides you with a steady supply of nutritious food, which will encourage you to include more vegetables in your diet (bonus reason: You won’t have to listen to your mom reminding you to “eat your vegetables!”)

3.     Giving: On that note, why not flip it around on your mom. Pack her up a nice basket of fresh vegetables from your garden for Mothers’ Day. Who says ‘no’ to free food? Your garden provides a way to make nice with the neighbours or impress a dinner party host (one day). If you have kids, it’s a great hobby to pass on; one that will keep giving throughout the rest of their lives.

4.     Aesthetics: Walking through a garden can be a transcendent experience. The colours, the aromas, the warmth, the sound of birds and bees! And vegetables that come in all sizes and shapes, resembling the more intriguing parts of our anatomy. What better way to annoy your Instagram followers than with pictures of your homegrown eggplants!   

5.     Nature: Not only is a lawn full of grass boring (so 20th century!), it is also a dessert for pollinators. Your garden will provide nourishment for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife. Some you won’t want (listen to the episode for tips on keeping away the unwelcome guests), but the bottom line is that your garden will be a net positive for mother nature.

6.     Ease: I’ll admit that I’m not at the point where I can guarantee this one yet, but according to gardening pro Camille, gardening is not that difficult once you get over the initial intimidation. It takes a bit of planning (finding a good spot, getting the right soil, and choosing the right crops for the right season), but once you’ve got that down, mother nature does most of the work! You don’t even need a yard: Most veggies can be grown in pots too! If you need extra help, pick up a copy of The Year Round Vegetable Gardener by Niki Jabbour; this is Camille’s vegetable gardening “bible”.

7.     Flavour: This is another one that I cannot attest to yet, so for now we are going to have to take Camille’s word for it. I have eaten home grown herbs and aside from the flavour enhancement, I can say that there is something so heartwarming about being able to able to go into your backyard for a fresh handful of basil or rosemary. You’ll find yourself adding herbs to almost every dish you make, which will up your flavour game even more! On that note, some of us could use a cooking lesson (coming soon!)

So, there you have it. If I haven’t convinced you yet, then let me know and I’ll send you some fresh tomatoes (or something – I hope) at the end of the summer. Maybe then, you’ll come around. If you are convinced, then go and give the latest episode a listen. And please don’t hesitate to comment, like, or share! 

Camille happens to be a talented photographer as well!

Big-picture thinking: What I learned from my conversation with Web Developer Spencer

For some reason a lot of people are intimidated by software (myself included). But as Spencer told me in our conversation, it’s not that difficult. It involves sitting down and working through problems, moving script around, using google, and taking breaks when needed. It’s not for everyone, but if computer programming is something you want to learn, then you might be surprised by how painless it is.

Spencer learned coding back in 2001 after developing a fascination with Wikipedia. He didn’t study it in university. He learned coding using Google and other internet resources. Then he got a job at start-up. Now he’s one of the top web developers in the GTA. 

 Even if you don’t want to be a coding whiz, there’s something to be gained from learning more about how our software works. We use it every day. In our conversation Spencer and I talked about everything from programming languages to good computer hygiene and overall wellness. I learned so much! The gears in my head are still turning. One thing I realized is that the things we spend our time doing (our careers, hobbies, etc.) can have a huge impact on the other areas of our lives. It’s important to be able to see the big picture – how interconnected it all is. On that note, here are some of my big takeaways from our discussion on learning computer programming. Feel free to add your own in the comments.

1.     Find a reason to learn. It should be more than just a vague payoff like ‘it will make me money someday’. Spencer pointed out projects as a way to learn computer programming. He wanted to make editing Wikipedia simpler. A friend of his wanted to make his email client more user-friendly. This doesn’t just apply to computer science. To get started on learning something, think of a project that you would be able to accomplish if you learned this skill. For example, if you want to learn to cook, you might visualize the perfect version of your favourite dish. It doesn’t have to be a project, just something that gives you an answer to the “why?” Something that helps you see the bigger picture of what you are working towards. 

2.     Invest in your projects (outside of work). This is where you get to do things the way that you want, “and don’t let anyone else tell you you’re doing it wrong”. With computer science, this means building software programs that interest you, whether it’s Wikipedia bots or a global time zone visualization (I definitely recommend checking out some of Spencer’s work). For you, this could be anything. It could be a novel, a homemade birdhouse for your mom, or a wicked tree fort for your kids. Whatever it is, the investment will pay off, whether monetarily or otherwise 

3.     Protect your work-life balance. When the boss tells you to work late, you can say no. When you are offered a job with a low salary, you can say no. The bottom line is you can say no. Saying no is one of the most important (and most difficult) habits to learn. Your time is your most valuable resource. If you don’t protect it, you’ll see it gobbled up by other people. And when you work for other people, they get rich off your time – not you. I realize this is capitalism in a nutshell, but you can have a job that ends at 5pm. Our forefathers literally fought for that. Say no to hustle culture (unless it’s for your own projects).

4.     Take breaks. When Spencer said, “it’s never going to be done”, he summed up the process of learning a skill. There’s always something to be done, just as there’s always something else to learn. That’s all the more reason to stop the clock and go for a walk when needed. As Spencer mentioned, this can be difficult if you’re chained to your desk. Often, we chain ourselves to our work, hoping that we’ll make it perfect, or solve the problem, if we just keep at it. As a perfectionist, I have to remind myself that this is self-defeating. Putting your feet up or going to bed is usually a much better way to work through a challenging problem than banging one’s head against the computer keyboard.

5.     Take care of yourself. Even sitting at a computer takes a toll on your body (and your mind). Whether it’s yoga, the gym, or just reminding yourself to raise your arms above your head, it’s important to routinize self-care. This is forward thinking. If you want to continue doing what you love in the future, you’re going have to take care of the faculties that enable you to do it.

6.     Make your work-flow work for you. Spencer said that a computer is like a carpenter’s workbench. If you ever watch a good carpenter, you’ll notice that every tool is in the exact spot. My former boss Rob was like this. Like Spencer, I used to think it was anal and even a little silly. But now I understand that setting up our work area in an organized manner, makes you work more efficiently. A disorganized carpenter could waste half an hour trying to find a misplaced level. Though not physical spaces, our computers are the same. Making our computers (and other work stations) work for us takes time and effort, but it’s worth it in the end. On that note, I have to go clean out my email inbox…    

Bonus: Spencer’s Tips for Learners of Computer Programming

1.     You don’t need to go to college or university. If you just want to work at a startup, you’re better off learning it on your own (if you’re not self-motivated and have the money, you can try a coding boot camp).

2.     Start with Python or Javascript. Though coding languages are all similar, some will take longer to learn and get good at. By starting with Python or Javascript, your progress will be quicker. Once you learn the basics of one language, it’s easy to pick up another language as they all have the same basic components.

3.     Start as a web developer. According to Spencer, learning programming on the web is much more forgiving than elsewhere and allows you to avoid licensing fees. As he says, websites are an amazing thing – how small, versatile, and fast they are!

4.     Start with a project you want to complete or a problem you want to solve.

5.     Learn version control. This enables you to track your changes and collaborate with other developers efficiently. The most common system is Git, according to Spencer.

6.     Develop your communication skills and emotional intelligence. At some point you are going to have to ask someone for help. Knowing how to approach and connect with people will enable you to learn from others and grow your network.

7.     You’re only as good as your tools: Set your computer up the way that works best for you. Also, don’t neglect to take care of those other tools. Your body and mind are irreplaceable.