My Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown: Lions dancing, drumming, firecrackers, lettuce, red envelopes, smiling, laughing, dim sum, sweet buns, bubble smoothies, friends old, and friends new. An auspicious start to a prosperous new year!
Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái! 新年快樂! 恭喜發財!
The Year of the Rabbit was a year of organizing, prioritizing, starting, completing, connecting, designing, gardening, cooking, sharing, and much more. I chose “Thrive” as my 2011 Themeword, and thrive I did.
Instead of blogging, I engaged in conversations on Twitter, Facebook, and especially face-to-face.
I observed trends, frequent questions, areas of expertise, and passions. I reviewed and recommended dozens of places and products. I attended educational events and shared advice on design, technology, social media, WordPress, getting organized, gardening, cooking, wine, and British entertainment. I resumed photography and collected topics for further exploration. In short, I spent the Year of the Rabbit immersing myself in life.
As the Year of the Dragon rolls in, I look forward to sharing some of those observations here and on official review sites, beyond the fleeting moments of Twitter and the walled garden of Facebook.
A huge thank you to those who have participated in these discussions and welcome to those who will join us this year. May you all enjoy a very healthy, joyful, peaceful, and prosperous Lunar New Year!
新年快樂! 恭喜發財!
Xīn nián kuài lè! Gōng xǐ fā cái!
Would-you-like-a-cup-of-tea?
Obviously, over here we’d have a cup of tea… the answer to everything!
Wise words from a friend in England last week while I had to wait. For huge design files to transfer. For software to run. For technology to work its magic, while not knowing whether or not the solution would work.
I wanted to use the waiting time productively and I was growing impatient.
So, I took his advice. I waited out the 40 minutes of file transferring and software processing away from the computer. I brewed a pot of tea, cleaned the kitchen, and listened to Eat Pray Love on audiobook.
And guess what? He was right. I was more calm and focused. I’d still been productive, too, but in a much needed physically active, get-away-from-the-computer way. In a fill-my-mind-with-something-inspirational way.
Take a break. Have a cup of tea. Embrace the waiting time, the uncertainty, as a moment to recharge, so that you’re clear and ready when the next task arises.
That advice is still making me smile days later, popping into my head while I wait for decisions and files so I can finish another design. The kitchen and laundry are clean. 
Geeky footnote: The latest episode of Dr Who (just days after this advice) has a bit about tea, so read the photo caption like a Dalek!
