Razor-cutting layoffs. Breaking contracts. Combining offices. Consolidating businesses. Declining earnings. Foreclosing mortgages.
The headlines give me headaches.
My day job puts me in the epicenter of the swirl of the financial world. News spinning around the globe has the potential to put me into a downward spiral and true blue funk by dinnertime.
We’re all affected by these events in one way or another. Can’t escape them. No where to hide. The trickle-down effect has monumental implications. One person’s job loss means one neighborhood foreclosure and all of a sudden, your home, thousands of miles away, is devalued. Or the goods and services that you lovingly present to the world have become, on a dime, completely devalued. Practically worthless in our global economy. Your bottom line is now in sight as never before and you, too, question the validity of your livelihood, your prospects for career survival and your long-term outlook for your chosen profession. For just when we thought it was safe to go outside again, we see darkness lurking in every corner. Even attorneys, who reside in one of the very few professions that have always been thought to be recession-proof, are suddenly witnessing massive layoffs and office closings. (See today’s feature article in the Wall Street Journal).
But take heart. There’s always reinvention.
I love the whole concept of reinvention. In fact, I’m not quite sure it’s really fair to call it that. I view it more as “continually striving to become the person who God designed you to become.” Moving toward the Promise Land of flowing milk and honey. Eventually finding and doing that for which you were created. Spending years in jobs and homes and physical locations as training grounds for that which you were really made for. Being placed in circumstances with people who you might find wonderful or irritating as a way to build character. Performing repetitive acts day in and day out not as the fatal end of a life spend in torture, but as preparation for the glorious work you are supposed to be doing as you mature toward your ultimate destiny.
People accuse me of constantly reinventing myself. And I’m always simultaneously amused and flattered by it. Because they mean well. But I view reinvention as a way of continually working on myself. Always stretching. Enduring growing pains along the way which cause me enough discomfort to figure out how best to move forward. How to finally bask in the light of what I was put on earth to do.
One of the best ways to reinvent yourself—to grow into your completed self—is by throwing yourself out there. Fully. Circulating. Of putting yourself in unfamiliar surroundings, talking to unfamiliar people about unfamiliar things. And then walking away, perhaps scratching your head, wondering “What in the heck was that all about?” Last week I allowed myself a one-hour weekday lunch-hour visit to a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner for a complimentary treatment. The practitioner is a member of my BNI group, and she offers all members a complimentary one- hour visit. Having no earthly idea what to expect, me being a practicing, very Western Christian with little exposure to Eastern traditions, I was hesitant. Not overly excited about the prospect. Slightly unnerved by it actually. Totally out of my comfort zone. It turned out to be a wonderfully relaxing experience which was honestly exactly what I needed to reduce my level of toxic stress which had been building up in my body over these last, what, eighteen months?
Most people I talk with these days are in dire need of reinvention. Out of work with no idea where to run or how to move forward, they have little comprehension of the why and the how of getting out there moving again. Of circulating among the living. Of going to parties or of actually throwing one of their own. Of accepting luncheon invitations or meeting a friend for morning coffee. Of asking “who do you know?” to mere acquaintances.
I’ve always enjoyed inviting perfect strangers to dinner. Or someone “dangerous” to tea. It’s simultaneously invigorating and wildly uncomfortable. Living in the uncomfortable zone is a whole lot more threatening than playing all the time in the safety zone. Or, as they say: “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.”
Please take a peek at a few of the events in which I’m participating in these next couple of weeks. If you need to reinvent yourself or you just need to get out and meet some new and interesting people, I invite you to circulate with me. Circulating is invigorating. Energizing. It leaves one feeling wildly and optimistically expectant and open to all that one’s mind can imagine and believe.
I hope to bump into you soon!
Blessings,
Carolina
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The 7th F: Why “Find” Should Be One of Your New Year’s Goals
Over the years, as I’ve written out my New Year’s goals, I have usually confined them to easily identifiable chunks, following a simple prescription of “the 6 F’s.” My husband, aiming to simplify-simplify-simplify, keeps it at just that: we have four kids and being Fernandez’s, we are, quite simply, the six F’s. And so we use this as a sort of model for goal-casting. Let me walk you through how we do it.
Faith: We set goals that help us walk a little further down our faith journeys. I wrote a goal of daily reading of the Scriptures, of daily prayer. I also admire the author Eugene Peterson, and I always have a yearly goal of reading more of his work. Perhaps you’ve been yearning to take a class or join a small group of like-minded souls who will come along side you in your faith walk. Commit your faith-based goals to paper.
Family: Developing wonderful families does not happen by chance. It takes insight, thoughtful planning, commitment, time, energy and passion. What simple rituals could you put into place that would enrich your family relationships? Daily walks together? Reading the classics aloud each night? Playing Scrabble together on the weekends? Dinner around the dining room table? An annual ski trip? Summers at the beach? Commitment to your kids’ sports schedules? Sitting with them while they practice the violin?
Friends: What do you need to do to continue your relationships well into your golden years? Do you have long-term friendships? What has kept these friendships alive? Sending birthday gifts and cards? Once-a-year trips together? Shopping? Frequent emails or phone calls? Dinners out? What could you be doing proactively that would ensure that these relationships stay healthy and strong?
Financial: Are you financially independent? If not, what steps should you take in order to move you closer to it? Can you pay down your debt? Look for a sideline job? Re-enter the workforce? Save more? Freeze lifestyle? With most people taking a significant whack to net worth in 2008, we are all thinking about the state of our finances and specifically, what we need to do to regain lost positions.
Fitness: Are you strong? Do your eyes radiate perfect health? Are you flexible? Can you maintain aerobic exercise for twenty minutes seven days a week? Are you committed to an exercise regimen? For how long? Which days of the week?
Fun: Do you look forward to each new day? If not, why not? What do you want to change about your daily existence that would bring more enjoyment to life? Take up painting? See more movies? Read more books? Spend more time with your kids? See more of the world? Give more to philanthropic organizations that bring you joy?
So there you have it. “The 6 F’s.” But the most intriguing “F” to me is the seventh one. “Find.”
Find that for which you were created.
God had a great idea when He created you. He had something in mind for you to do. A reason to put you on this earth. A mission. A purpose. Have you figured it out yet? One of man’s instinctual drivers is to seek that for which he was made.
As you write out your yearly goals, I would encourage you to spend a good deal of time reflecting on just this. It’s not something that most of us can easily or quickly do. For as time passes and we grow up, we soon discover that there are always new things that we are supposed to be doing. When we’re young, we’re supposed to be good students. And perhaps, if we’ve been blessed with giftedness in a specific area, perhaps with athletic prowess or musical or artistic ability, we are of course required to explore it and to use it. But as we get older and assume greater worldly responsibilities to family and kids and career, we often lose sight of what we were put on this earth to do. Meditate on this. Imagine possibilities. Allow yourself to think of the bodacious. Crazy big.
People who habitually write down their goals have a higher probability of achieving them. Study after study has shown this to be true. Commit to writing them down before the week is over. Give yourself the license to enjoy quiet contemplation. As the weeks go on, consistently review these written goals. Make yourself accountable towards achieving them. And, moving forward, watch your dreams unfold.
God bless,
Carolina
Faith: We set goals that help us walk a little further down our faith journeys. I wrote a goal of daily reading of the Scriptures, of daily prayer. I also admire the author Eugene Peterson, and I always have a yearly goal of reading more of his work. Perhaps you’ve been yearning to take a class or join a small group of like-minded souls who will come along side you in your faith walk. Commit your faith-based goals to paper.
Family: Developing wonderful families does not happen by chance. It takes insight, thoughtful planning, commitment, time, energy and passion. What simple rituals could you put into place that would enrich your family relationships? Daily walks together? Reading the classics aloud each night? Playing Scrabble together on the weekends? Dinner around the dining room table? An annual ski trip? Summers at the beach? Commitment to your kids’ sports schedules? Sitting with them while they practice the violin?
Friends: What do you need to do to continue your relationships well into your golden years? Do you have long-term friendships? What has kept these friendships alive? Sending birthday gifts and cards? Once-a-year trips together? Shopping? Frequent emails or phone calls? Dinners out? What could you be doing proactively that would ensure that these relationships stay healthy and strong?
Financial: Are you financially independent? If not, what steps should you take in order to move you closer to it? Can you pay down your debt? Look for a sideline job? Re-enter the workforce? Save more? Freeze lifestyle? With most people taking a significant whack to net worth in 2008, we are all thinking about the state of our finances and specifically, what we need to do to regain lost positions.
Fitness: Are you strong? Do your eyes radiate perfect health? Are you flexible? Can you maintain aerobic exercise for twenty minutes seven days a week? Are you committed to an exercise regimen? For how long? Which days of the week?
Fun: Do you look forward to each new day? If not, why not? What do you want to change about your daily existence that would bring more enjoyment to life? Take up painting? See more movies? Read more books? Spend more time with your kids? See more of the world? Give more to philanthropic organizations that bring you joy?
So there you have it. “The 6 F’s.” But the most intriguing “F” to me is the seventh one. “Find.”
Find that for which you were created.
God had a great idea when He created you. He had something in mind for you to do. A reason to put you on this earth. A mission. A purpose. Have you figured it out yet? One of man’s instinctual drivers is to seek that for which he was made.
As you write out your yearly goals, I would encourage you to spend a good deal of time reflecting on just this. It’s not something that most of us can easily or quickly do. For as time passes and we grow up, we soon discover that there are always new things that we are supposed to be doing. When we’re young, we’re supposed to be good students. And perhaps, if we’ve been blessed with giftedness in a specific area, perhaps with athletic prowess or musical or artistic ability, we are of course required to explore it and to use it. But as we get older and assume greater worldly responsibilities to family and kids and career, we often lose sight of what we were put on this earth to do. Meditate on this. Imagine possibilities. Allow yourself to think of the bodacious. Crazy big.
People who habitually write down their goals have a higher probability of achieving them. Study after study has shown this to be true. Commit to writing them down before the week is over. Give yourself the license to enjoy quiet contemplation. As the weeks go on, consistently review these written goals. Make yourself accountable towards achieving them. And, moving forward, watch your dreams unfold.
God bless,
Carolina
Stretch Forth Thy Hand
Last night I held what will be the first of more than a dozen country French-style diners in my home to support local charitable organizations. From Habitat for Humanity to the arts organizations which enrich our area, these “dining for dollars” events were first conceived as a way to reach beyond the normal boundaries of a book.
I had this idea that my book, ground-breaking in the sense that it was the first of its kind to address a highly-niched area of interior design, Country French Kitchens could be used for a greater good. That although it is certainly lovely and serves as both a widely-read reference book for design professionals and artists, as well as a book for renovators, remodelers, design-book addicts and Francophiles, that perhaps it could be used in a way to expand the boundaries. That it could be an engine-driver for philanthropy.
More than a dozen of these dinners have been bid on at local live auctions, held at yearly galas, and have brought in somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 for philanthropic endeavors of all kinds. And that’s a really neat thing.
Last night’s dinner was one of two that were the result of a bidding war between two friends. They each hit their bidding limit and, each hating to lose, asked me if I would do two dinners instead. Because it raised double the amount of money for the charity, I gladly obliged. The other winning bidder will come with her guests next Saturday.
I headed for the grocer straight from my early morning tennis game. My preference is to support locally-owned merchants who carry locally-grown produce. Ah! What a delightful Saturday morning ritual this has become for me. Fully–awakened by a solid hour-and-a-half of chasing down tennis balls, along with a thermos of downed hot coffee, I always arrive at the grocery store early enough to avoid all crowds.
Scanning the bakery isles left me with only a French baguette, which would be used a few hours later for sopping up a fabulous feast of fresh mussels in white wine sauce.
The gourmet cheese isle was full of delicacies. My personal favorite, a Danish bleu, was swept up for the planned endive salad with roasted walnuts and pears, which, when drizzled with a homemade emulsion, would prove to be the perfect precursor to the entree.
It was on to the fresh produce isle, where it was time to pick up the most aromatic herbs I could find. Sprigs of thyme, rosemary and flat-leaf parsley would all find their way into my shopping cart. Rosemary would coat the roasted, buttery cashews which, served hot, would greet my guests upon their arrival; thyme and parsley would work itself into the boiling broth of chicken stock and white wine where the mussels quickly cooked. Fresh Brussels sprouts, sautéed in my giant copper pan, proved earthy and nutty, and oh-so-flavorful with a few pieces of thick-cut bacon added for good measure (is there anything that isn’t made wonderful with the addition of a little bacon?)
The dairy isle held heavy cream, a required mainstay in my crème brulee. That, along with real unsalted butter and high-quality, extra virgin olive oil, provide all of the fat one’s diet requires (along with real ice cream of course). No artificial ingredients in diary allowed!
A bone-in veal loin was cut by the butcher. Oh my goodness was it divine! Hearty and flavorful, with a sauce whisked with chicken broth and the bits from the bottom of the pan (among others) gave it the soothing quality for which I was striving (and my body craved.)
Speaking of soothing: there’s just nothing like crème brulee for that final spoonful. My fourteen-year-old son loved using the kitchen torch to give each individual serving that fabulous crusty top; his reward was two servings instead of one and mine was watching him gobble it up with pure delight.
I confess to being a lousy Monday-to-Friday cook. Work gets in my way. As does my long commute, football carpool and frankly, physical and mental weariness at the end of most days. Weekdays find us “catch as catch can.” Grazing. Noshing on naked deli meats and cheeses. Nuts and fruits. Raw veggies or good organic soups, even though they usually come from a can. Pitiful as it might sound, it remains my weekday dinner MO.
So when the luxury of a weekend day comes when I have nothing else to do but prepare for a dinner party, I find it—surprisingly—absolutely delightful. I love primping my house: fluffing the pillows on the sofas and lighting the candle in their sconces; arranging flowers into a container and re-arranging chairs around the dining room table; polishing the silver and ironing the linens; pre-heating my oven and warming up my heart for service to others.
Entertaining requires a focus on others. And away from self. For it is such a time-consuming process that all thoughts of self must be essentially abandoned. No time for a manicure if the hors d’ oeuvres must be prepared pronto. Forget worrying about dressing like a glamour-puss when you’ll be popping your head into and out of a hot oven and thrusting your arms into sinks of sudsy water. Throw away those spike heels for a decent pair of ballet flats as you’ll be on your legs for a good eight hours or so.
Entertaining requires lifting your spirits in order to lift those of your guests. It means taking your mind off your troubles and seeking to make everyone around you at ease. Of laughing, of extending, of reaching beyond your comfort zone when breaking bread with complete strangers whom you have worked for since dawn in order to create an evening to remember.
“Be careful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” This is the Old Testament verse from the Bible which I have personally claimed as my command for hospitality. Interesting or surprising at it may be, after all the groceries have been procured and put away, after all the dishes have been prepared and consumed, and after all the dishes have been washed and dried and put back in their place, it is always—always!—me, the entertainer, who has received the richest blessing. To fill the stomach of a friend or a stranger, to serve in the humblest of ways, brings the mightiest of rewards.
It is my hope this week that you might outstretch your hand to someone who could use a dose of nourishment. Bodily or otherwise. For by nourishing, you will be nourished. In the exhaustion of the aftermath of your evening, you will find refreshment of soul. And when you awaken in the morning, you will be at peace with the world.
Sending to you all blessings on your week,
Carolina
I had this idea that my book, ground-breaking in the sense that it was the first of its kind to address a highly-niched area of interior design, Country French Kitchens could be used for a greater good. That although it is certainly lovely and serves as both a widely-read reference book for design professionals and artists, as well as a book for renovators, remodelers, design-book addicts and Francophiles, that perhaps it could be used in a way to expand the boundaries. That it could be an engine-driver for philanthropy.
More than a dozen of these dinners have been bid on at local live auctions, held at yearly galas, and have brought in somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000 for philanthropic endeavors of all kinds. And that’s a really neat thing.
Last night’s dinner was one of two that were the result of a bidding war between two friends. They each hit their bidding limit and, each hating to lose, asked me if I would do two dinners instead. Because it raised double the amount of money for the charity, I gladly obliged. The other winning bidder will come with her guests next Saturday.
I headed for the grocer straight from my early morning tennis game. My preference is to support locally-owned merchants who carry locally-grown produce. Ah! What a delightful Saturday morning ritual this has become for me. Fully–awakened by a solid hour-and-a-half of chasing down tennis balls, along with a thermos of downed hot coffee, I always arrive at the grocery store early enough to avoid all crowds.
Scanning the bakery isles left me with only a French baguette, which would be used a few hours later for sopping up a fabulous feast of fresh mussels in white wine sauce.
The gourmet cheese isle was full of delicacies. My personal favorite, a Danish bleu, was swept up for the planned endive salad with roasted walnuts and pears, which, when drizzled with a homemade emulsion, would prove to be the perfect precursor to the entree.
It was on to the fresh produce isle, where it was time to pick up the most aromatic herbs I could find. Sprigs of thyme, rosemary and flat-leaf parsley would all find their way into my shopping cart. Rosemary would coat the roasted, buttery cashews which, served hot, would greet my guests upon their arrival; thyme and parsley would work itself into the boiling broth of chicken stock and white wine where the mussels quickly cooked. Fresh Brussels sprouts, sautéed in my giant copper pan, proved earthy and nutty, and oh-so-flavorful with a few pieces of thick-cut bacon added for good measure (is there anything that isn’t made wonderful with the addition of a little bacon?)
The dairy isle held heavy cream, a required mainstay in my crème brulee. That, along with real unsalted butter and high-quality, extra virgin olive oil, provide all of the fat one’s diet requires (along with real ice cream of course). No artificial ingredients in diary allowed!
A bone-in veal loin was cut by the butcher. Oh my goodness was it divine! Hearty and flavorful, with a sauce whisked with chicken broth and the bits from the bottom of the pan (among others) gave it the soothing quality for which I was striving (and my body craved.)
Speaking of soothing: there’s just nothing like crème brulee for that final spoonful. My fourteen-year-old son loved using the kitchen torch to give each individual serving that fabulous crusty top; his reward was two servings instead of one and mine was watching him gobble it up with pure delight.
I confess to being a lousy Monday-to-Friday cook. Work gets in my way. As does my long commute, football carpool and frankly, physical and mental weariness at the end of most days. Weekdays find us “catch as catch can.” Grazing. Noshing on naked deli meats and cheeses. Nuts and fruits. Raw veggies or good organic soups, even though they usually come from a can. Pitiful as it might sound, it remains my weekday dinner MO.
So when the luxury of a weekend day comes when I have nothing else to do but prepare for a dinner party, I find it—surprisingly—absolutely delightful. I love primping my house: fluffing the pillows on the sofas and lighting the candle in their sconces; arranging flowers into a container and re-arranging chairs around the dining room table; polishing the silver and ironing the linens; pre-heating my oven and warming up my heart for service to others.
Entertaining requires a focus on others. And away from self. For it is such a time-consuming process that all thoughts of self must be essentially abandoned. No time for a manicure if the hors d’ oeuvres must be prepared pronto. Forget worrying about dressing like a glamour-puss when you’ll be popping your head into and out of a hot oven and thrusting your arms into sinks of sudsy water. Throw away those spike heels for a decent pair of ballet flats as you’ll be on your legs for a good eight hours or so.
Entertaining requires lifting your spirits in order to lift those of your guests. It means taking your mind off your troubles and seeking to make everyone around you at ease. Of laughing, of extending, of reaching beyond your comfort zone when breaking bread with complete strangers whom you have worked for since dawn in order to create an evening to remember.
“Be careful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” This is the Old Testament verse from the Bible which I have personally claimed as my command for hospitality. Interesting or surprising at it may be, after all the groceries have been procured and put away, after all the dishes have been prepared and consumed, and after all the dishes have been washed and dried and put back in their place, it is always—always!—me, the entertainer, who has received the richest blessing. To fill the stomach of a friend or a stranger, to serve in the humblest of ways, brings the mightiest of rewards.
It is my hope this week that you might outstretch your hand to someone who could use a dose of nourishment. Bodily or otherwise. For by nourishing, you will be nourished. In the exhaustion of the aftermath of your evening, you will find refreshment of soul. And when you awaken in the morning, you will be at peace with the world.
Sending to you all blessings on your week,
Carolina
The Cupcake Index
We’ve used indices for about one hundred years to measure the strength of the economy. Bullish and bearish sentiment indices on the S&P 500. The Dow Jones Industrial average. Net buyers to net sellers. The Consumer Price Index. Producer Price Index.
And then there are the more subjective indices. The Hemline Index, which uses the relative skirt length to kneecap in determining direction of the capital markets. The Lipstick Index, which measures purchases of small indulgences as a reflection of consumer buy-in, or of the pent-up demand for luxury when one is least able to afford it on a grander scale.
I propose we add another relevant and clearly revealing economic index: The Cupcake Index. For not only in times of economic uncertainty but in times of economic prosperity, cupcakes provide the immediate gratification that people all over the world need.
And we especially need them now. Small enough in which to indulge without gnashing your will-powerless teeth with guilt. Tidy enough to embrace without leaving too many crumbs as out-of-the-office-for-a-quick-cupcake-fix evidence of breaking-the-diet-and-taking-a-work-break-all-at-the-same-time. Sweet enough to inject that required afternoon shot of sugar to the brain. Inexpensive enough to justify when most other discretionary longings are on indefinite freeze.
But alas, cupcakes provide one more element which practically requires them to receive an index all their own: they propel everyone higher on the happiness scale. And God only knows how we all need to inject more happiness into our lives. Cupcakes, while perfectly glorious eaten in private, are particularly satisfying while shared. Unlike an entire cake which, let’s face it, represents a wholehearted commitment (of inviting the neighbors over for an hour and putting up a pot of coffee), cupcakes can be noshed on with or without beverage of choice. Gulped down within a few minutes. Walking, standing or sitting at a cupcaketerie with a friend. A lone cupcake—vanilla, chocolate or ohmygosh red velvet—topped with buttercream icing cut in half and shared with two forks, is perhaps the single best remedy for a global economic recession. And moving higher on that happiness scale.
And I’m not alone. The New York Times feature story “Will Cupcakes Be the Next Krispy Kreme?” prompted blog responses from readers across the country. Turns out: people are mad for cupcakes. They’re clearly here to stay. Having taken the Big Apple by storm, lines wrap around the corner at the now famous Magnolia’s Bakery. Its third store just opened, competing head-on with Crumbs and Cupcake Café, among others. And while sales figures are hard to pin down, it’s clear that entrepreneurs are committed to elevating the previously lowly school-kids treat to connoisseur status. And heck: at $3 per, this is not exactly an every day treat. If one were to chart the Cupcake Index, I presume the line would be upward sloping to the right. With bullish indicators.
I would advise that as you move forward through these grayest of days: days of political and economic uncertainty, days when we clearly don’t know whether our favorite auto maker will survive the end of the fiscal year or find itself on the auction block, days when you’re not sure where or for how long you will be employed, that you treat yourself and a friend to a cupcake. To a forced break from the madness. To meaningful conversation. To creating a business relationship or continuing a personal friendship. To two forks and two coffees. To creating a distinct memory.
Oh, sweet cupcake. The cure for all of life’s worries. May an index be created just for you.
Blessings on your week,
Carolina
And then there are the more subjective indices. The Hemline Index, which uses the relative skirt length to kneecap in determining direction of the capital markets. The Lipstick Index, which measures purchases of small indulgences as a reflection of consumer buy-in, or of the pent-up demand for luxury when one is least able to afford it on a grander scale.
I propose we add another relevant and clearly revealing economic index: The Cupcake Index. For not only in times of economic uncertainty but in times of economic prosperity, cupcakes provide the immediate gratification that people all over the world need.
And we especially need them now. Small enough in which to indulge without gnashing your will-powerless teeth with guilt. Tidy enough to embrace without leaving too many crumbs as out-of-the-office-for-a-quick-cupcake-fix evidence of breaking-the-diet-and-taking-a-work-break-all-at-the-same-time. Sweet enough to inject that required afternoon shot of sugar to the brain. Inexpensive enough to justify when most other discretionary longings are on indefinite freeze.
But alas, cupcakes provide one more element which practically requires them to receive an index all their own: they propel everyone higher on the happiness scale. And God only knows how we all need to inject more happiness into our lives. Cupcakes, while perfectly glorious eaten in private, are particularly satisfying while shared. Unlike an entire cake which, let’s face it, represents a wholehearted commitment (of inviting the neighbors over for an hour and putting up a pot of coffee), cupcakes can be noshed on with or without beverage of choice. Gulped down within a few minutes. Walking, standing or sitting at a cupcaketerie with a friend. A lone cupcake—vanilla, chocolate or ohmygosh red velvet—topped with buttercream icing cut in half and shared with two forks, is perhaps the single best remedy for a global economic recession. And moving higher on that happiness scale.
And I’m not alone. The New York Times feature story “Will Cupcakes Be the Next Krispy Kreme?” prompted blog responses from readers across the country. Turns out: people are mad for cupcakes. They’re clearly here to stay. Having taken the Big Apple by storm, lines wrap around the corner at the now famous Magnolia’s Bakery. Its third store just opened, competing head-on with Crumbs and Cupcake Café, among others. And while sales figures are hard to pin down, it’s clear that entrepreneurs are committed to elevating the previously lowly school-kids treat to connoisseur status. And heck: at $3 per, this is not exactly an every day treat. If one were to chart the Cupcake Index, I presume the line would be upward sloping to the right. With bullish indicators.
I would advise that as you move forward through these grayest of days: days of political and economic uncertainty, days when we clearly don’t know whether our favorite auto maker will survive the end of the fiscal year or find itself on the auction block, days when you’re not sure where or for how long you will be employed, that you treat yourself and a friend to a cupcake. To a forced break from the madness. To meaningful conversation. To creating a business relationship or continuing a personal friendship. To two forks and two coffees. To creating a distinct memory.
Oh, sweet cupcake. The cure for all of life’s worries. May an index be created just for you.
Blessings on your week,
Carolina
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