Book Review - The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

Now more than ever

As I write this it is my son’s eighth birthday and while we are celebrating I can’t help but think time is flying. In that regard, slowing down is something we can all strive to achieve in this modern 24-hour world. Haemin Sunim new book is extremely popular in his native South Korea and has now made its way to the States. The full title is The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World and ask us “Is it the world that’s busy, or is it my mind?”

Haemin Sunim is prominent Buddhist meditation teacher who was born in Korea, but educated in America and deals with a subject most people only talk about but never seem to achieve, a balance in their lives. Additionally, the book features amazing nature illustrations by Youngcheol Lee to remind us to even slow down when we are reading the book.  The central narrative deals with actually seeing what the author calls ‘lovely moments’ including the smile of a child.

Another of the book’s themes urges us to form meaningful connections with people. This is a topic that we try and re-enforce with our clients. It is better to connect with people than it is with stuff. While the book deals with ancient teachings it never feels like fortune cookie wisdom rather a turning of Buddhist philosophy into relatable concepts.

Interview - Lisa Goldman, One Hope Cause Entrepreneur

We recently met Lisa at an event and found her story interesting especially since we are always advising clients to move towards experiences instead of aquiring stuff.

Can you describe what One Hope is and how the charity works?

OneHope was founded in 2007.  The vineyard is in Napa Valley California and out wine is created in collaboration with Robert Mondavi Jr. All orders are shipped via UPS and take approximately 1 week to deliver. We have a collection of award winning wines, gifts, and other gourmet products, with every item providing a built-in donation to very meaningful cause partners. Each wine varietal is linked to a charity that is carefully vetted and then supports. Some examples of our causes are Autism, childhood hunger, veteran support, pet adoptions, LGBTQ crisis lines, cancer treatment clinical trials etc.  

When someone makes a purchase they are giving back. In addition to selling directly from my business page, I also hold in-home or in-office wine tasting events. The host or hostess of the event can choose a charity that is close to them. 50% of the profits are donated to the partner causes and 15% of half and full case sales from wine tasting events go to the host/hostess' choice.  These events are a fun way to try new wines, learn about the different varietals, and raise money for local charities. To date the OneHope foundation has given over $1.7 million to nonprofits.

OneHope wine also has corporate gifting options we can have your company's name or logo branded onto a beautiful wood gift box.

How did you first get involved with One Hope?

I am a special education teacher working for birth to three. I was just looking for something to do where I can meet some new people and maybe make some extra money. I heard about a direct sales wine company, I researched it and found out about OneHope.  Once I heard about the fundraising aspect of the company I was hooked. 

What are some of the tastings events you have run?

I have done several in- home wine tasting events, happy hour events at realtor offices, online events, bridal shows and networking events.

As Organizers we are always striving to move from stuff to experiences, how have people responded to your business?

People absolutely love the idea of getting their friends or coworkers together for a fun night of wine tasting. Once they hear about the fundraising aspect of it they are blown away.

Which wine is your favorite?

My personal favorite wine is our Sparkling Brut and our Pinot Noir.  And I'm in love with all of our glitter bottles. They are very special. They make fantastic gifts!  

Shelf and Refrigerator Liners

Unsung Heroes

A question our prospective clients often ask has to do with cleaning and if we do it. We are not a cleaning service, but in reality, we aren’t going to place items back on a shelf or in a pantry without a little light dusting or a quick wipe down. In that regard, we often find old or dirty shelf liners that need replacing.

Con-Tact Grip Ultra Shelf and Drawer Liners

In our experience, these work well. They are non-adhesive which is a plus especially if you have ever tried to remove an old liner that has merged with a shelf to form an alien life form. However, the major selling point is that they can be cut easily to fit any size shelf.

Refrigerator Liners

We have organized our share of refrigerators in our time and the shelves get dirty and in a unique way. Honey, syrup and mystery goo can be hard to remove plus the alarm goes off in your ear if the door is open too long. These liners can also be cut to fit which is a huge plus. In addition to protecting the shelves, they absorb moisture to keep those veggies crisp.

Heavy-Duty Shelf & Storage Liners

Often we encounter metal shelves in the attic, basement or garage and items can fall through the cracks. Plastic liners work really well to ensure loose items can be placed worry free on any utility shelf. They also can be cut to size and also work in the laundry room or any closet with wire shelves. If you have ever dropped items behind the washer and dryer you know the importance of getting things to stay in the proper place.

Saint Valentine Suggests

Here are a few simple ways to take the heartbreak out of Valentine’s Day and give that special someone in your life some space.

The Partner’s Promise instead of Chocolate

In every relationship, one person tends to be neat and the other messy. Some spouses even go so far as to enact the “don’t touch my stuff rule.” This Valentine's’ Day, make a deal with one another. With the promise of not throwing anything out,  give your partner permission to clean and organize those areas which are always cluttered. Create a space in the house for these items to live until your spouse can review them.

Say It With Flowers Minus the Vase

Everyone loves flowers, but with the many flower deliveries, households end up collecting an inexpensive vase for each petal. Choose to recycle, donate to Community/Senior Centers or give your excess vases to college students (they’re always putting flowers in empty beer cans).

 

Cute Stuffy, Not So Cute Clutter

Cheap stuffed animals and plastic heart mugs pile up every year. Why not give the gift that leaves nothing behind, such as a dinner out or an evening at the theater. Experiences last in our memories more than pink teddy bears falling apart in the closet. And don’t forget to leave the devices at home and enjoy one another's company interruption-free.