The humble onion.
The ordinary made holy by Naomi Shihab Nye.
It’s hard to believe it’s already Thanksgiving. I’ve had the same conversation with a few other female founders… as soon as we hit October, it’s felt like this year has been flying by.
In response, I’m trying to slow the roll a bit. I find that narrowing my focus to the little things, the everyday, the mundane, helps. Slowly eating a perfectly ripe Bosc pear. Going for a walk at 4:15 in the afternoon, as the sun is about to set, and the cold air soothes my jangled nerves. Enjoying the interaction between the coffee purveyor and the customer in line ahead of me, and not wishing they would just hurry up already.
I find that poetry helps as well. The focus and attention required for close reading slows things down in a way few other forms of media do.
Thinking of abundance and the everyday at Thanksgiving, I went in search of a poem that spoke to both. A reminder that what we see on the table has a story — it’s everything (and everyone) behind it.
Here’s The Traveling Onion by Naomi Shihab Nye.
The Traveling Onion
Naomi Shihab Nye (1952 – )
When I think how far the onion has traveled
just to enter my stew today, I could kneel and praise
all small forgotten miracles,
crackly paper peeling on the drainboard,
pearly layers in smooth agreement,
the way the knife enters onion
and onion falls apart on the chopping block,
a history revealed.
And I would never scold the onion
for causing tears.
It is right that tears fall
for something small and forgotten.
How at meal, we sit to eat,
commenting on texture of meat or herbal aroma
but never on the translucence of onion,
now limp, now divided,
or its traditionally honorable career:
For the sake of others,
disappear.
Source: Poets.org
💪 A year-end “ask me anything” 💪
You have questions about your business. And I (most likely) have answers.
To that end, I’m doing something different as we move into December.
Next Wednesday’s email will be the start of a series of mailbag style AMAs in which I’ll respond to the specific questions you have about your business (anonymously, of course).
It could be about getting new clients, your positioning, your offerings and pricing, hiring a team, your operational setup… Whatever challenge you’re facing that has you stuck or opportunity you’ve created that has you not quite sure how to move forward.
Just hit reply to this email to submit your question and I’ll answer it in the coming weeks. This is a “first-come, first-served” situation. So, submit early!
And if you’ve not already completed it, I’ve prepared a short, three-question survey about this newsletter. The goal is to continue to provide the information you need to grow your service-based business and feel good in the process of doing it. I would so appreciate your input.
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Until next time.
Katherine
#ICYMI
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