tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3144616579963110201.post5965982199362912271..comments2023-09-17T05:24:37.074-07:00Comments on minhus: Review: Take Back Your Timemin hushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09460666548836420815noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3144616579963110201.post-2026133732837984722012-03-29T09:26:57.985-07:002012-03-29T09:26:57.985-07:00I think they think collectively while Americans ar...I think they think collectively while Americans are too individualistic. We're never going to get far with the mentality that each family/person has to figure it out for themselves on issues like family leave, vacation, etc.. With this mentality, the very rich will always win out over the little guy.oilandgarlichttp://oilandgarlic.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3144616579963110201.post-13148664544612496312012-03-24T09:27:25.496-07:002012-03-24T09:27:25.496-07:00I definitely remember noticing and loving the extr...I definitely remember noticing and loving the extra vacation in Norway, but I didn't think too much about the lack of before and after school activities. I wasn't overscheduled as a kid (which I am grateful for) so it wasn't that big of a change for me personally.<br /><br />I'm still stuck on figuring out how to make enough money to not have to have a full time job. I have to admit I feel like I'll be stuck until retirement.min hushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09460666548836420815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3144616579963110201.post-85836455925362190372012-03-24T09:07:21.548-07:002012-03-24T09:07:21.548-07:00It really seems like Europeans have the right idea...It really seems like Europeans have the right idea about so many things, buying quality over quantity of stuff; valuing time over money, eating fresh food over processed. Where did we go so wrong?!min hushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09460666548836420815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3144616579963110201.post-91752665608479057832012-03-23T10:02:22.559-07:002012-03-23T10:02:22.559-07:00This is why I'm planning my move to Europe! I...This is why I'm planning my move to Europe! I never understood why Americans don't take advantage of higher productivity to demand as a group for less work hours or at the very least more flexibility at work. At my company, it's ok to work from home if it benefits them like they need you on a weekend, but not the other way around.oilandgarlichttp://oilandgarlic.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3144616579963110201.post-27225450280913214602012-03-22T20:32:55.970-07:002012-03-22T20:32:55.970-07:00Ha! Ooops... the second to last sentence was suppo...Ha! Ooops... the second to last sentence was supposed to say <i>complicit</i> not complicate! That's what you get for being in a hurry and just accepting the first option the spell checker gives you! :~)EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3144616579963110201.post-81910844046336167832012-03-22T20:30:08.534-07:002012-03-22T20:30:08.534-07:00Wow! I'll have to see if I can make time for t...Wow! I'll have to see if I can make time for this one... yuk yuk yuk!<br /><br />Seriously, I could write a novel on this topic, and it is always validating to have actual data to back up one's personal beliefs. <br /><br />"Even the majority of slaves in the ancient world and serfs during the Middle Ages did not work as hard, as regularly, or as long as we do." Now that's downright horrifying!<br /><br />I sort of feel like I've been beating this drum for most of my adult life. I was raised by a mother who pretty much believed that no matter how hard you were working, it wasn't enough, and I guess I've pretty much spent the rest of my life rebelling against that approach. <br /><br />My first real introduction to the idea that maybe there was another way, was the year I spent in Norway. Did you feel the same way when you were there? It was sort of a shock to my system to suddenly be in a world without before and after school activities or commitments taking up every free minute. I literally didn't know what to do with myself! I remember being totally shocked that everybody got 2 weeks off work at Christmas, and a week at Easter, and then the whole month of August. <br /><br />And to tell the truth, I sort of think that the culture and I are going in totally opposite directions in this regard. I can't even imagine trying to tackle a full time job at this point in my life... and I know that with smart phones and text messaging and FaceBook and all the other stuff that I avoid like the plague, it's even worse now than it was when I was working. I simply can't imagine how anybody does it and maintains any semblance of sanity.<br /><br />But here's the thing... I think that this is all connected to our culture's totally messed up relationship with human emotions. I'm not sure why, but we Americans, as a society, have a very hard time accepting that there are things we feel which we are not in control of. And it seems to me that staying crazy busy is the accepted manner of dealing with (or rather NOT dealing with) all of those pent up feelings.<br /><br />I know there's more to it than that, but I can't help but believe that we are complicate in our own frenzy.<br /><br />I'd better stop before I burst a blood vessel, but I think I must read this book!EcoCatLadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704811319510740473noreply@blogger.com