kaizen

zen I know, but kaizen??

Definition of kaizen:
“Japanese management term referring to continuous improvement. A philosophy that sees improvement in productivity as a gradual and methodical process. Kaizen is a Japanese term meaning "change for the better".” (answers.com).

Where I ran across it:
5/4/08 NYT article, “Can You Become a Creature of New Habits,” by Janet Rae-Dupree.

“…She recommends practicing a Japanese technique called kaizen, which calls for tiny, continuous improvements.…”

My two cents:
This is your brain: stuck in a habit-rut. This is your brain on kaizen: free from the pithy bonds of rutdom, and given wings and permission to change for the better.

Eureka, what a find.

Is kaizen a miracle drug? Nope, it’s a philosophical technique, and the insanely successful business model for Toyota. (Calling all Dilberts. There’s hope. Who knew?) Apparently, it’s also a technique that can be employed on a personal level by any miserable schlub like me who feels hopelessly enslaved by a bad habit – or two, or three.

According to M.J. Ryan, who wrote the book, “This Year I Will,” kaizen’s secret to successfully changing habits is in not scaring your brain into overload so that it drops what it’s doing and runs away like a cat in a thunderstorm. “Whenever we initiate change, even a positive one, we activate fear in our emotional brain,” Ms. Ryan notes in her book. “If the fear is big enough, the fight-or-flight response will go off and we’ll run from what we’re trying to do. The small steps in kaizen don’t set off fight or flight, but rather keep us in the thinking brain, where we have access to our creativity and playfulness.”

Don’t worry. Be happy. Embrace kaizen.

OK, here I go. I think I’ll make tiny, continuous improvements in my weight. I will lose a pound – just one tiny little pound.

Fifty times.

calumny

very familiar word; but I need a refresher

Definition of calumny:
“A false statement maliciously made to injure another's reputation.The utterance of maliciously false statements; slander.” (answers.com).

Where I ran across it:
Frank Rich’s NYT Op-Ed column, “The All White Elephant in the Room,” dated May 4, 2008.

“…Mr. McCain says he does not endorse any of Mr. Hagee’s calumnies, any more than Barack Obama endorses Mr. Wright’s. But those who try to give Mr. McCain a pass for his embrace of a problematic preacher have a thin case. It boils down to this: Mr. McCain was not a parishioner for 20 years at Mr. Hagee’s church.…”

My two cents:
What a great word, calumny. Reminds me of calamity and alum – ok it’s dumb, but I can’t help my subconscious. Just thought I’d share.

We all know the “wise old saying” that warns about discussing politics and religion. It’s a wise old saying for a reason. It’s true. People are passionate. They have their beliefs – lots of different ones. When it comes to politics and religion, either one can make for a volatile conversation – even among friends. Together, they are capable of creating an explosive tête-à-tête that would make Oppenheimer proud.

The question is: how do we move forward and prosper as a civilization that grows together in understanding, forgiveness, unity, and strength if we don’t talk about these things and try to address them with intelligence, compassion and grace? The reality is: not everybody wants that goal. And it’s just darned hard to unite and find common ground with wackos. Witness: the Rev. J. Wright and the Rev. J. Hagee. What a Terrible Twosome. They are polar opposites, however they do share common ground. Both pious, and destructive, each one is a hot zone, a living, breathing exothermic reaction, a veritable, one-man nuclear explosion spewing hateful, toxic fallout that is spiritually and morally lethal. But hey, I’m not judging…

See, now I’ve foolishly gone and ignored the wise old saying already. It's a wise old saying for a reason.

Frank Rich’s article ignores the wise old saying, too, thankfully. Rich takes a “what’s good for the goose” approach as he wags a finger at both of these clowns of the cloth, but also at posturing politicians, the biased press, and the fickle public, concerning what gets attention and what (or who) doesn’t. Pretty darned interesting, and thought-provoking. But you should decide for yourself.

Go read. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Good luck.

And God bless.