Adopting the Trans-Siberian Mindset

"Beware of the barrenness of a busy life." - Socrates

Here we are again - that time of year where the "To Do" list gets longer and longer, the days get shorter and shorter, and the approach of "the holidays" looms larger and larger. (By "the holidays" I mean the combination of dates and celebrations that occur this time of year - no disrespect to Christmas intended.) In spite of the joy the holiday season brings, there is also the annual stress of, "How am I going to get all this done?"

Germans have a term "zerrissenheit" which is the state of "torn-to-pieces-hood." Sound familiar? The notion is that to be human is to feel fractured and pulled in a dozen directions. And, while this is a relatively common state, it is not a comfortable or easy one to be in. When my level of "zerrissenheit" gets too high, I melt down. And, that is what happened last week.

As is usually the case, the thing that caused the melt down was inconsequential. On a regular day or week or if I was in a regular state of mind, the melt down catalyst wouldn't have effected me at all. But, in a state of maxed out-zerrissenheit-ness, all hell breaks lose when that minor tipping point is reached and that's what happened to me.

Long story short, I have been given permission to cut back on my hours at work (thank you, kind and understanding publisher and editor) and I have been challenged by Mr. Clark to get my act together simplicity-wise. For months, years, most of my life I have been yearning after balance and simplicity; and, for months, years and most of my life they have eluded me. Given the choice between chaos and simplicity, I choose chaos every time. You can imagine what a mess my life, my mind and my house are in after 54 years of choosing chaos.

What better time to contemplate and institute simplicity than during the holidays? It is a time of birth and blessings, a time of shining stars and bright lights, a time when it is easy to feel a heightened sense of spirituality and clarity on the things that really matter. It is also a time when we get to pull those who are dearest to us close, either physically or through the exchange of cards, letters and gifts. It is a wonderful time of the year that challenges us to sort through the clutter and focus on what really matters. Easier said than done and therein lies the simplicity/balance/holiday challenge...

When you cut back on work hours, you have to cut back on expenses. Something about belt tightening makes identifying unnecessary lifestyle clutter more obvious. Mr. Clark and I pay money for a lot of things we don't need or can do ourselves; that starts to end now. Do those meals out really justify the stress that working too much causes? No. Can I clean my own house? Yes. Can we do a better job of keeping up with yard work and repairs if I have more time? Yes.

The things that seem like no-brainers after a melt-down/life revamp appeared to be impossible only a few weeks back. There is no doubt I can make a calmer, more balanced life if I do more and stress less. And, an important part of all that involves doing more for those who are less blessed.
In the midst of all this soul-searching and life restructuring, I read an NPR story on "Russia by Rail: Trans-Siberian Traditions," by David Greene. While reading it, a light bulb went off in my head.

The story is about what a big place Siberia is and how long it takes to cross it on a train. A ride like that, especially across a place as barren and beautiful as Siberia, gives travelers ample time to stare out the window, relax, read, think and develop a sense of camaraderie with the other riders. Greene describes it as hours and hours to "look at the peaceful emptiness...that stretched into the distance...eager for the next stop where even the smallest things are thrilling."

Travelers who have experienced this have coined the phrase "the Trans-Siberian mindset." I like that thought; it involves fully experiencing things and sharing food with strangers. "Sharing food on the train is how friendships are cemented," Greene says, and during his first few attempts he did a shabby job of it. He has since "gotten better at buying tasty offerings to share" and now makes that a priority at every train stop.

This holiday season, I'm on a journey to adopt "the Trans-Siberian mindset," which means simplifying my priorities and taking more time to enjoy the ride. Hans Hofmann said, "The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." What better time than the holidays to listen loud and clear?