Conscious Choice Seattle: The Habit of Learning

December 2005 | From the Editor

The Habit of Learning

By Bob Condor

There is always more to learn.

This issue marks the second complete year of Evergreen Monthly issues. We are honored to be in your hands and homes and, as it might apply, natural grocery shopping bags.

Every issue is a chance for finding out more about this vibrant, progressive community we live in. This month is no exception.

In fact, the learning mantra is particularly resonant and clear this month with the announcement of our second annual Evvie Awards (starting on page 14). The Evvies go to people, businesses and organizations who inspire us to be happier, greener, calmer, stronger, deeper and healthier, among other upsides.

There are lots of repeat winners—such as Café Flora, represented so brightly by food server Chrystal Powell on our cover—plus many new faces, places and groups.

We appreciate all of the votes cast online by readers and, ahem, fans of certain people and businesses. It is an education in itself to read through the ballots.

I saved one of the ballot sections for this space. It is the question about what categories we missed that you would like to mention or vote on next year. Here are some of the dozens and dozens of write-in suggestions (and, in some cases, Evvie nominees):

Local business working to promote community; best massage therapist, best acupuncture/herbs clinic, favorite outdoor place to meditate, best local delivery service of organic/ethnic foods, best educational training in natural health (Bastyr University), best organic garlic powder from a market (River Farm Certified Organic Garlic Powder, sold out of Ellensburg as well as at most Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets).

And more:

Best gluten-free restaurant, best spiritual store (Starfeather’s), best natural hair salon (Eden Organic Salon, Mode), best idea you’ve never heard of (community voice mail), three best healthy recipes, best local musician, best local parks, best sustainable cooking school (Culinary Communion), best CSA, best naturopathic physician, best “green” laundry mat (Transformation Surprise), best positive dog trainer, best editor (Bob Condor, why, thank you, and, no, my family didn’t vote), best dog park (Green Lake), best place for natural foods cooking classes (PCC), best psychic, best vegan market (Side Car), best leader education and best place to get an education (Leadership Institute of Seattle) and best view in the city (Volunteer Park).

There is one more category that requires special mention: Favorite alternative mental health practitioner. Kirkland Holistic Center’s hypnotherapist Scott Sulak received strong support. You can learn more about Scott’s work at www.changeforgood.com .

This year we asked regular contributing writers Ritzy Ryciak and Joe Follansbee to add some of their favorites to the Evvies mix. So readers voted on “Raves” and the writers gave us the “Faves.”

* * *

I recently heard a successful coach explain that “basketball is a game of habit.” Putting together a magazine is similar. You assemble a team, work together, laugh together, put in the long hours, accept differences, forge common goals and allow for everyone’s strengths to emerge.

The habit part of it comes in purposefully doing the work, in our case month in and month out. For a yoga student, it would translate to engaging in your practice on a daily or near-daily basis.

Poise under pressure is essential to establishing the successful habit of publishing a lively magazine—and finding that monthly place in your homes and shopping bags.

Poise in our offices is personified in art director Rich Huston (who photographed this month’s cover, along with 10 others in the last two years). Rich is flat-out unflappable.

Creativity is Rich’s habit of passion. But being there, month and month, ready to do “the best issue yet” is his finest habit.

He’ll always get my vote.

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