delara, interrupted

Cold

I think I have one, and I don't like it with regard to weather unless there are fjords, whale-watching or glaciers involved. (At least according to my dream last night. Weird.) Figuring out how to keep myself warm takes up a surprising amount of time for me each day. I have to remember to bring a sweater or jacket with me pretty much anywhere I go. I don't like to be cold. Nope.

Compassion

If only we had a bit more compassion for one another, what a different world we would have. Compassion moves us not only to recognize the pain and suffering of others (which is hard to avoid these days), but also to alleviate or remove the source of that pain and suffering. It's a brilliantly complex attribute that we need to foster in one another, probably best achieved in childhood. If you haven't already, check out this book about the fourteenth Dalai Lama. He has quite a bit to say about compassion.

Courtesy

This pairs with compassion on my list of virtues or qualities I wish people (including me) developed more. One of the things I enjoy about living in the South is that courtesy is much more prevalent, regardless of its roots or sincerity. It is much more likely here that someone holds a door open for me, or yields to me in traffic, or says "thank you" than in, say, Chicago. Courtesy is like a crown of kindness and grace. It reveals our heart's desire for kindness and preference to be shown to others--an act of servitude. I love that.

Chocolate

How could this NOT be on my list?!?? Oh, yes. Chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... And I have just found some unsweetened chocolates (i.e. NO SUGAR ADDED! YAY!) that make my tummy very happy. And lest you think that unsweetened chocolate is yucky, here's how I have it: I lay out a piece of phyllo dough, brush some melted butter (or "buttery" spread) on it, break the chocolate into small chips and place the chips in the middle of the square, add banana slices, add some honey, and then roll it all up like an eggroll. Then, I brush some more buttery spread on the outside and place it in a pan to lightly brown each side. All the chocolate melts and I am left with an AMAZING little dessert! Thanks to Khadija for that recipe. YUM!

Cancer

In case you weren't aware, October was National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Along with a bunch of other stuff about which we need to be aware.) This year, it hit much closer to home than ever before, and now it's on my mind. A lot. Fortunately--and before anyone panics--this is not about me personally, but it IS about my mother. And I have a lot of feelings about what she's going through, especially since I can't be with her to support her every day. Fortunately again, my mom has wonderful friends and sisters who are supporting her on a daily basis, either in person, through prayer, or during her upcoming treatment. Nevertheless, this has stunned me, and I find myself voraciously reading through anything I can to inform myself and to support my mom better, however she may need that support. It's been a lot to take in, and, of course, it has me thinking about my own health even more. Maybe that's a good thing.

Christmas and Chanukkah

I wonder why we (societally speaking) spend so much time making these religious holidays about material gifts rather than spiritual ones?

Change

Perhaps because I have--at some point in my life--expressed my desire to accept, embrace and even catalyze changes in myself, I am facing a lot of them right now. As is Steve. Some of it is great stuff, although sometimes hard-won, and some of it is challenging us well beyond our current stages of growth. At least that is our perception. So, we spend a lot of time consulting together about how to better move through the changes that spring up on a moment's notice and how to more gracefully adjust in ourselves whatever has to change, move aside or evolve in order that we may increase our happiness and unity and grow beautifully. I find it interesting that most of the changes we are facing are external to our beings--at least we're not creating more drama for ourselves, right? We find ourselves enjoying the practice of "giving it over to God." That's good stuff.