“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
-Vivian Greene
Minnesota is a place I have known intimately for over 20 years. A span of collective years far greater than any other place I have lived. Minnesota is where I grew up finding adventure in the varied environment my family chose as my first home.
Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. Stunningly, beautiful lakes and rivers with pine forests and natural habitats. It’s inspiring to have a natural canvas in your own backyard. Intense color paints the landscape and fades into muted pastels as the seasons change. The environment unveils a dramatic change in appearance as the calendar year moves forward to the next season. Changing seasons yield transformation, altering the very nature of the surroundings you live in. You learn to adapt to constant change.
Minnesota is a lesson in the “Art of the Seasons.” You gain wisdom from past seasons that influence your perspective of future seasons. You develop an openness to embrace the changing landscape while looking forward to the next seasonal change. It teaches you to focus on the things you can control and find value in the things you can’t. It is a formidable life lesson.
Fall is my favorite time of year. The crisp, chill in the air as you wrap yourself in your favorite cable knit sweater. You start your first fire in the fireplace. Neighbors visit together as everyone rakes fallen leaves in their yards. You smile at the sight of your breath exhaled as you step outside. You visit the apple orchard for fresh apple cider. It’s a sensory experience.
Fall is when Mother Nature takes a bow surrounded by a theater of amazing autumn color and exits the stage for the introduction of winter. I marvel at the Fall season every year, and it’s worthy of a standing ovation every time.
Winter in Minnesota is a lessor favorite. Anyone who has experienced “feels like” -35 degrees below zero will nod their head in agreement. You never quite understand how this temperature drop is possible. It just is. It’s a skill test to ensure you complete any outside task in 20 minutes or less. An adventurous change to the countless hours you spent basking in the sun at the lake this past summer.
Now you strategize how to get the mail, take the garbage out, unload groceries, and shovel the driveway in 20 minutes or less to prevent frostbite. (Ideally, 15 minutes in case calculations are off.) Mother Nature bringing humor to the art of the seasonal process.
The “Art of the seasons” brings optimism. You are optimistic what once was, will unveil itself through renewal again, and optimistic, the renewal can be even greater than it was once before. As you learn to leverage the seasons, you master the art.
Minnesota is a perfect place to master the “Art of the Seasons.” It’s where I learned to find beauty and value in the environment as it continued to change. It’s where I became comfortable adapting to the forces I could not control.
Growing up in Minnesota is where I became confident I could live anywhere in the World, and ultimately, feel right at home.
May 9, 2016
In
Art of Travel
“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”
-Robert Frost
It’s fascinating to reflect on the decisions that greatly influence your life, the pivotal moments that guide your next chapter of experiences. There is one profound decision that materialized when I was in 9th grade that comes to mind. It seemed inconsequential, however, this single decision became fundamental to all future key decisions I have made. It unveiled one of my greatest passions, and continues to guide how I live my life today.
In 9th grade, I became a librarian at our local Public Library. This was my first real job. I did not aspire to be a librarian, however, it seemed like an interesting opportunity and convenient. I worked part-time during the school year and full-time in the summer. I became a tactical expert at researching articles, recommending material to patrons, identifying trending topics, organizing library sections, and mastering the art of the Dewey decimal system. After four years, I knew the library intimately.
The library presented an incredible wealth of knowledge that was constantly at my fingertips. At the time, we didn’t have the Internet. The key resource to gather information and learn was the public library. It opened up a world beyond the boundary of where I lived, and became my own personal education system where I spent over 5,000 hours. I was free to choose what I wanted to learn and I relished in the options. It generated an intense curiosity to discover a wide variety of subjects.
I had limited travel outside the mainland United States while growing up. I traveled to Hawaii once for our family holiday. I was content. It didn’t occur to me there were places I wanted to go. Until, I started working at the library, and that changed everything. The area I quickly became most fascinated with was Travel. I spent countless hours immersed in the discovery of fascinating new places, and I was privileged to lead a global adventure through the colorful pages of thousands of books. I consider this period as one of the most influential in my personal growth. It created a strong desire to Travel and experience the World while broadening my perspective of the possibilities.
It has led me to fascinating places around the globe while promising a life full of adventure. I am truly grateful for that 9th grader whose curiosity and imagination was fueled in the Travel section of the local Public Library. The “Art of Travel” has touched all aspects of my life – from where I live, how I live, to the career I continue to create. It is fundamental to how I view the World and the influence I can have throughout the journey.
March 8, 2016
In
Art of the Hands
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“Art of the Hands” is a magical experience to me. I have been fortunate throughout my career to be surrounded by the most beautiful Luxury Brands in the world, an incomparable (and occasionally expensive) benefit of being part of DFS Group and the LVMH selective retailing division.
Twenty-five years in the industry is where I developed an appreciation of the “Art of the Hands” as the foundation of product creation. Working with the industry’s most highly regarded brands, I spent several months every year traveling to Paris, Italy, London, and Switzerland visiting the various Maison and Manufacture.
Switzerland became my favorite “home away from home.” With its sweeping countryside and majestic mountains, I witnessed the “Art of the Hands” epitomized in the miniature terrain of a masterpiece Swiss tourbillon watch: hundreds of minute individual pieces crafted by a single watchmaker at a seasoned workbench overlooking the Vallée du Joux. It will take the watchmaker one year to complete a single watch.
You never quite look at a Swiss watch in the same manner again, and ultimately, when the majority of assembled pieces become hidden inside the watch as the creation process completes, you appreciate how art is truly “in the eye of the beholder.”
It is inspiring to be in the presence of artisans who are expert in their craft. They take pride in the lifelong mastering of their skill, while maintaining a passion for excellence and tradition. There is a purity of style when objects are handmade and artisans strive for perfection.
There is also uniqueness, as the personality of the artisan is imprinted in the fine detailing of the object, and a part of the artisan is woven into the very fabric of the piece as it comes to life. The skills associated with traditional artisanry are passed on through generations while each artisan personalizes their craft with their own distinct influence.
You can feel the quality of an object when a seasoned artisan creates a unique piece and expertise flows through their hands as they design it with intention and purpose. It is a humbling process to behold. Their mastery of skill sustains the relevance of their craft, engages youth, and promotes the ongoing livelihood of their local communities.
The discipline of an artisan is captivating as they focus on creating minute detail while remaining faithful to the overall vision of the piece. Their determination and passion to see the object take form from beginning to end is inspiring, and unveils the ineffable magic founded within the creation process.
A story unfolds through the hands of an artisan as a bespoke piece is created through chapters of experience and skill. The blend of vision and heart creates layers of uniqueness in a story only their hands can tell. As they continue to master the expertise of their craft, their story is told in a breathtaking library of personal masterpieces.
The distinct individual artistry and collective talent as artisans create a unique piece together, will forever influence my preference for handmade and the magic of the “Art of the Hands.” It is at the heart of sustaining the cultural beauty and tradition of what makes each one of us unique, and should be held protectively and cherished for the generations to come.
