Nerdistan

As a guest on a local television show recently, I decided to
bring along my vacuum cleaner.

No, it wasn’t for a segment on household hints. I wasn’t there
to share secrets for deep-cleaning a carpet. Instead, I was
using my vacuum cleaner as a memorable visual (aural?) aid to
talk about mindfulness.

My host, Roland, gamely turned it on during my bit, and we
attempted to shout over the roar of the machine. After a few
seconds, we gave up, and as he turned it off, the ensuing
silence was a welcome relief.

I used the vacuum cleaner to talk about how we have this noise
in our heads all the time. Our thoughts are creating a swirl of
sound, and it can be exhausting to try to concentrate, relax or
get creative with all that racket going on.

This mental vacuum sucks our energy and makes it difficult to
gain clarity, let alone peace of mind. We need to turn it off in
order to have the quiet space we need to truly pay attention.

The surprising part of this is that turning on a REAL vacuum
cleaner and running it across your floor provides an excellent
opportunity to quiet the noise in your head. You can use your
power switch to make an intentional shift toward mindfulness,
and let this housecleaning task become your chance to watch your
thoughts.

Any slow repetitive physical task lends itself beautifully to
mindfulness practice, and the back-and-forth motion of your
vacuuming can give a soothing rhythm to your thought-watching.
Set your body on auto- pilot and focus on the thought parade in
your head.

Or, you can choose to use your dust-sucking time to focus on the
physical activity required. Feel the muscles as you move. Focus
on your shoulders and arms as you stretch and retract, stretch
and retract. Switch arms and watch how it feels to relax that
one side while flexing the other.

The point here is to make use of the task as a trigger for
mindfulness, but remember this: fun is a huge motivator in all
things. So, if you can’t get too excited about vacuuming in
general or thought/body-watching in particular, I heartily
recommend Option #3–the “Mrs. Doubtfire” approach to
mindfulness.

You remember the scene in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire when Robin
Williams, dressed as the matronly nanny, rocks out while
vacuuming to Aerosmith’s “(Dude) Looks Like A Lady,” right? This
must be the greatest housework scene ever. It makes me want to
go to my cleaning closet and dance with the vacuum wand myself.

That’s what I’m talking about.

If you’ve ever been stressed about something and gone on a
cleaning binge, you know how good it feels to scrub the floor
and wipe away your frustration at the same time. You might as
well get something done while you’ve got that adrenaline
pumping, right?

So, if a meditative vacuuming session doesn’t inspire you, you
can still use this time to be mindful by focusing on your air
guitar moves. Pay attention to your sense of fun as well as your
sense of perspective. Exercise your concentration. Focus on what
it feels like to cut a rug while cleaning it.

Mindfulness doesn’t require stillness, and it certainly doesn’t
have to be serious. Turn on your vacuum, and let the focusing
begin.

Suck it up.

Bracelet popularity dates back to the Roman times and continues
today. Roman bracelets shared many of the design patterns of
necklaces and earrings from that era. The ever popular ball
earrings from that era were nicely matched with a ball style
bracelet. Engraved bangles and snake bracelets were very popular
during Roman times. Bracelets made of twisted coil with lion
head ends were common place, as were the two part bracelets
ending with a pair of lion heads. The Heracles knot bracelet is
recognized as a Roman era piece. The Roman’s were very creative
in the designing of their jewelry. However they still borrowed
from Greek motifs. Palmettos, fleeing dogs and acanthus leaves,
all of Greek origin, were often seen in the designing of Roman
jewelry.

Stones and glass were often used in Roman bracelets. . Gem
stones were commonly found set in eyes. Open bands were cut to
represent a row of ivy and entwined with pearls. Many of the
leaf and berry bracelets were heavily adorned with decorative
glass. The wealthier women could be seen wearing bracelets
layered in bezel set emeralds.

During the Gerogiian times bracelets remained popular. Paris
jewelers were known for their gold bracelets set with pearl
edging. After the 1820s coral became the “in” fashion statement,
so bracelets and other jewelry were heavily set with coral.

During the Gerogiian time it was very fashionable to wear many
bracelets at once, including wide ribbon gold mesh bracelets,
and silk ribbon bracelets. Gem and Diamond bracelets were
designed in geometric patterns. Gold was heavily used during
this era.

The Victorian era brought changes to the fashions of women,
including jewelry styles. Earrings grew long and dangled,
bracelets became rigid and were normally worn in pairs. The
buckle bracelet became very fashionable.

The jewelry of the Victorian era expressed sentiment, and
bracelets were no exception. Bracelets would contain lockets or
charms with pictures or hair of a loved one, and engravings were
common

Early Victorian jewelry enjoyed some mystic with hidden meanings
being popular. The acrostic bracelets where the first letter of
each gemstone spelled a word of friendship were very popular.
For example a bracelet set with Lapis, Opal, Vermeil [hessonite
garnet] and Emerald would spell Love.

The Art Nouveau period once again saw changes to fashion and
jewelry. Chameleons and serpents entwined themselves around
bracelets. The mystical Egyptian scarab was found on bracelets
and rings. Other popular creatures included dragonflies,
butterflies, bees, peacocks, swans, and even bats. This was a
very figural period attached to nature. If jewelry did not
depict creatures it depicted flower blossoms or flower buds.

>From 1910 to 1939 women’s fashions saw sleeveless or short
sleeve dresses appear. The result was flexible bracelets and
bangles worn on the upper arm. These arm bracelets were often
adorned with gemstones or diamonds. From 1940 to 1949 US
designers were greatly influenced by the designs from the French
house of Van Cleef & Arpels. Bracelets with ribbon of hexagon
lines centered on fine gemstones fastened with heavy clasps
became very vogue.

>From 1950 to 1960 daytime saw simpler lines for not only gold
bracelets but necklaces as well. Gold mesh or twisted wire
bracelets were very popular.

>From 1960 to 1970 bracelets became more flexible and were often
set with gems. Bangles on the other hand became more rigid and
were often seen set with random diamond placements.

>From 1970 to 1979 bracelets were flexible and often set with
tiny baguettes. Delicate and dainty bracelets were vogue.

>From the 1980s to now bracelet fashions have been mixed and
varied. Bracelet styles have become more of an individual
fashion statement than a trend. Gold has always remained popular
as have gems, however sterling silver has become very popular
and recognized for its versatility and wearability at affordable
pricing. In the last few years we’ve also seen an increase in
demand for titanium bracelets. Today a women’s fashion statement
is about her! What she likes, what she feels good in. So your
bracelet wardrobe can be what ever you want. Wear a dainty gem
set gold bracelet or an armful of clunky bracelets, which is
very vogue this season.

Your fashion statement is about who you are, so feel free to be
you!