005: What I learned from my recent hospitalization.

There are a lot of things I don't do well.  Some things I am remarkably bad at include:

• making a big fuss about what to eat, or where to eat;
• taking 6 steps to do something that can be done in 3;
• wasting time, effort and resources with dawdling or idleness.

The above things cripple me -- like Superman's kryptonite -- and I recently learned why.  I, literally, don't have the energy to spare for that nonsense.

I learned that I have half the ideal amount of hemoglobin, which is the part of the red blood cells that provide oxygen (energy!) to the body.  It is the gas that makes the car go, and my tank has perpetually been on half, never full.  I always knew I was anemic, but a recent hospitalization -- the first in my life -- taught me I've been dangerously anemic.

Hence, my hard-wired tendency to want to conserve my energy for conversations and activities that matter.

When something is limited (like my energy has been), it takes on a preciousness.  It is of value, and not to be squandered.  In America -- the land of plenty, abundance and 348 different kinds of toothpaste -- we rarely feel scarcity.  Even those with low to no cash flow still experience a high degree of bounty the majority of the world will never know.

So we don't readily feel the preciousness of things.  We lack the inclination to ration our attention for things of high value.  We settle for junky mediocrity so long, and so routinely, until it has become the norm... while The Exquisite or The Deep feels burdensome, rather than savory.  Totally backwards.

In a weird way, I am saying thank you for my anemia... which has very likely contributed to my need for simplicity, non-hurriedness, smart systems and a life that will not force me to keel over from panting exhaustion, trying to keep up with the Joneses who, behind closed doors, and according to most happiness polls... are actually lacking peace of mind, contentment and/or strongly derived meaningfulness.

An iron regimen should improve my physicality and, hopefully, give me the energy to plant thousands of ideas, seeds and trees!

Barring anymore unforeseen mishaps, we'll be back on track this coming Monday, where you'll hear from a gardener I admire, and we'll also start talking about the Permaculture Principles, one principle at a time.  If you want to get a head-start on that, consider these three words, "Observe and Interact."

What I'd love to learn from you right now is: What is precious to you?  Share below!