My delicious Porter from Deschutes — 25th anniversary edition Black Butte XXV
As I write this blog post I’m sitting outside of Deschutes Brewery in Portland, Oregon enjoying a delicious meal at this “must-see” spot recommended by former Portland gal and Feasting Fort Collins blogger, Kristin Mastre. I’m waiting at a small outside table sampling their phenomenal 25th Anniversary Imperial Porter, Black Butte XXV (sorry Fort Collins, mecca of beer!), waiting for my main meal, and I start thinking about how lucky I am to be having this experience, right now.
This isn’t something I do often; eat dinner alone far away from home at a tasty place with unique food like wild, hand-picked mushroom shepard’s pie. It’s a true treat and I’m savoring every minute of it. I watch families wander by with kids. People leaving work for the day in a hurry to catch the next train, dinner in hand from a local food cart or groceries to toss together for a late meal. I hear little kids crying because it’s past regular supper time and they’re spent from the sun while walking in the touristy part of town. It’s so fun to people-watch in a city where you don’t know a soul.
This one very simple act of dinner alone reminds me of the many other days I’m doing all the things that “real life” requires; writing, cooking, shopping for groceries, planning for my business, connecting with clients and dealing with the concerns of average, every life.
And then I pause on that word — average. It’s one thing everyone secretly fears they’ll be, yet also sometimes secretly desires to be; to “fit in”. Quite a push/pull teaser for the brain, right? What you perceive as average completely changes based on your stage of life, and the judgments you create around the state of “said life” follow suit. It’s when the feeling of average gets in the way of the true you that creative blocks can start taking shape in the background.
What Does Average Really Mean to You?
When you think you may be falling into an “average” zone in your life or with your creativity, take a pause. How do YOU define average anyway? Against someone else’s life or accomplishments? Against your own? Against the imaginary life you believe you “should” have? This is so important to understand about yourself, as it influences all of your choices and how you feel about them.
For example, It’s been over a decade since I’ve walked the streets of Boston, scowling as the millionth person riding the duck tour “quacked” at me while I headed to the bar(s) next door for an after work drink. I would do this a few nights a week, and definitely on the weekends as a large part of my early 20s after grad school. Today, living this way seems completely alien, although I KNOW I lived it; it’s part of my past. It’s shaped me and I’m so very grateful for that experience. Back then, that lifestyle was my average. Now it’s an occasional deal that’s savored and appreciated with excellent food and kick-ass drinks.
Aside from the reasons I mentioned in my previous blog post about taking my recent Portland adventure, I’m also on the borderline of the big 4-0. The mid-life point. The cliche age where you assess where you’ve been, where you are going and if your “average” is OK or not at all what you want. Not that you HAVE to wait this long, but it can sort of creep up on you. I find myself secretly assessing things I didn’t give a care in the world about before. And in this mindset of life review, I slowly began to notice and more fully embrace all the little “average” things that make me, me. Here’s are a few…
I’ve never been married, but I have had a few very rewarding partnerships with men that have enabled me to learn so much about myself through their relationship reflection. I haven’t had a traditional job since 2008-9ish when I finally released my independent writer contract with IBM. I’ve chosen to be an animal mama, not a human one. I’m a passionate entrepreneur who loves to help others. I think in blog post titles. I love learning about everything, including people and new ideas. I’m fascinated by how people dive into their own creative process. I have a very wide range of musical tastes, ranging from classical to good old country music with lots of mandolin. I love avocados. My cat Monty, sitting on my chest, gently pawing my face for more pets it one of my favorite things in the world. I’m an avid, yet very picky, reader. Face painting totally creeps my out, and I can’t explain why. I feel the same about masks.
These are some of my unique traits; things that remind me that the definition of average when it comes to human beings really just means an “average” of all the little things that make you a unique and interesting soul, and act as the blueprint for how and what you create. And it’s what makes life such an adventure, as we bump around and learn about each other’s little pieces.