Links Around the Blogosphere – Gimme Peace Edition

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A week into this new parenting thing and I'm a little tired, a little hungry, a little shy on my previous grooming standards (note to self – replace all dress shirts with stain-resistant ones) and a little short on patience.  So, my focus this week has been on articles that help me experience lasting (a relative term) peace in my life. 

Arvind Devalia wrote a nice piece for Peace One Day (did I use the correct forms of piece and peace?  peas?).  There are some very helpful tips in the article, particularly the process of focusing on giving, not getting and the Gratitude journal.  Check out Find Peace Today rather than One Day, Some Day!

I'm a big Steve Jobs fan as I think the man is completely Brilliant.  This is despite the fact that I've never owned a Mac computer.  I'm completely sold on my cheap, no frills Netbook.  The guy has a simple, minimal wardrobe of jeans, a turtle neck, and a sport coat.  Who couldn't appreciate the type of character one must have to simply not care what others think.  I learned something new about him today, thanks to the Everyday Minimalist, check out: Steve Jobs' Minimalist Office in 1982.  Perfect peace, no distractions.

Leo Babauta often writes about the process of doing less, and concentrating on the essential.  This article fleshes out a key component of that which I firmly support, concentrating on quality not quantity.  It's something I wrestle with as I contemplate a less stringent posting schedule on this blog.  8 Ways Doing Less Can Transform Your Work & Life.

As I contemplate simplifying my bookshelf (my book fetish has brought me as much misery as joy) I enjoyed seeing a timely recap by Trent Hamm who, on a semi-regular basis, gives updates on his essential library.  Quote: "A great library isn’t full of books you’ve already read and know – it’s full of books you haven’t mastered and haven’t yet read. These are the ones that continually challenge me and push me to grow."  The Essential Bookshelf 2009: The Eleven Books that Rise Above the Rest.

My schedule doesn't allow me alot of time to write.  When I sit down to write a post, I have to be on my game each time.  As I am writing this, my "desk" is currently a leather recliner and a netbook, listening to music that's meant to calm babies (It's not working!).  Sometimes I will write at the dining room table or breakfast nook.  Sometimes it's by pen and paper in the cafeteria at work.  I've never truly realized why I change my writing medium and my "office" frequently, but this article gives me justification for doing what I do.  Using Different Parts of Your Brain.