☯️ A study in contrasts
Ep 60: Day-tripping in luxury, a week of recognizing what's different, and the value of not letting the unknown slide.
This weekend’s big news: we got to see Xander! The last time we saw Explora I was as we disembarked in Hamburg after a week aboard as guests. Now, she’s in New York City until this evening, her gold and blue livery looking sharp under silvery skies.
A Tip for the Modern Worker
Normalize “I don’t know.” Promote a culture where it's normal to speak up and say “I don’t know.” When you raise your hand and ask for the answer, chances are others have the exact same question.
This tip is one of 365 in my Handbook for the Modern Worker. It’s tempting to try to guess your way through an interaction, especially if you’re one of the few in the interaction and want to impress someone with your knowledge. If you lack that knowledge, though, and press forward with your best guess anyway, you’re gonna get found out eventually. The price could be trivial or gigantic, depending on the stakes. Nobody’s going to be upset if you simply say, “I don’t know, I’ll get back to you.”
The other way to read this (and is the way I wrote it, IIRC) is when you’re in a gathering and don’t understand something that’s being discussed. Imagine someone uses an acronym or phrase you’ve never heard of. If it’s feasible, as for clarification for the group’s benefit. If not, chat a co-worker on the side. Just don’t let the unknown slide.
#365DayDraw
I drew this and wrote the accompanying annotation as part of my #365DayDraw project 7 years ago today.
Raining. She may end up back in the palatial foyer, or inverted, discarded in the gutter. Once again at the mercy of the wind.
A timely cartoon on the heels of massive weather shift this week. Read on for why an umbrella features squarely in this week’s list of contrasts!
Commentary
I experienced so many different contrasts this week, made evident by time, weather, or material change.
We replaced some windows in our house, most dramatically in our bedroom. We went from having two narrow windows to what amounts to a wall of glass overlooking our backyard. I still have to do some drywall, painting, and install some shades, but the contractors did a really great job on this big project.
Now that’s some contrast.
Leaves have fallen fast and furious here in upstate New York. With massive swings in temperature, the trees seem to be letting go faster than usual, but that might be just my perception. I noticed it mostly in my yard, after raking one day and having that evidence totally erased by an overnight. And I know there’s a benefit to leaving leaves where they lie, but I have a problem with one part of my lawn where leaf litter and really inhibit grass growth. So, I rake. But yeah, the landscape around here is starting to look ready for (shiver) winter.
Now that’s some contrast.
Saturday was uncharacteristically hot in New York City. Sunny and 80s. Shorts and shades.
Sunday was seasonably cold and wet, just a day later. Cloudy and fifties. Dark and drizzly. And pro tip: when you see the forecast and realize you’re down an umbrella, it’s far easier to umbrella shop with intention when it’s not actively raining. Such was the case for us on Saturday.
Now that’s some contrast.
We usually hang our hats in Manhattan but given the proximity of Weehawken to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal by ferry, we tried staying in New Jersey and ferrying to New York for our two-day stay. Parking was easier, the ferry was delightful in Saturday sun, and the nights were quieter without so much street noise. I’d never traveled to Manhattan by ferry and I really enjoyed it.
Now that’s some contrast.
We spent the Sunday morning enjoying some time aboard Explora I with Xander. He signed us on as crew guests and we enjoyed coffee, conversation, and a delicious lunch. The last time we were on Explora in August we were bonafide guests, but as day-trippers it felt quite different. I had quite a hit of nostalgia for our week-long experience when I stepped aboard. Everything was familiar, of course, and I recognized a lot of staff from our time as guests, but it was also very different. We didn’t have a cabin on board. Instead of looking out over the waters of the North Sea, we were sandwiched between the Intrepid and a massive Norwegian ship, just steps from the city so nice they named it twice.
Now that’s some contrast.
We made the best of a rainy day and hit Broadway with Xander. We saw The Book of Mormon years ago while he was at a summer music camp. We all loved it so much we didn’t shy away from seeing it again, so we scored some mezzanine seats and danced through puddles to the theatre. Our prior seats were right mezzanine, but today they were on the left. Each show, despite having the same score and script, was delightfully different with actors putting their own unique impression on the roles. And seeing someone experience something you’ve already enjoyed is a joy in itself. He laughed himself silly, as did we. Our experience was made richer with the knowing anticipation of what was around the corner with each unfolding scene.
Now that’s some contrast.
I think that’s the beautiful part of living on this blue/green marble, that every day can be something different. Contrast is good.
Miscellanea
🎙 I put Adam Grant’s Unlocking Hidden Potential with Malcolm Gladwell interview in my podcast queue. I love pretty much anything Adam Grant or Malcolm Gladwell, so a merger of the two is a must-listen event.
🗺 I saw the trailer for Leave the World Behind, which comes to Netflix December 8. Looks like an edge-of-the-seat option for a cold winter night. Yep, added to my queue.
Love the contrasty storylines. I have felt the contrast in my bones these days!