Tuesday, June 5, 2012
just one thing
Sometimes I go to Target for just one thing ... just to prove that I can do it without getting distracted by all the stuff that wants to jump into my basket, my life. It's very liberating. :o)
Monday, June 4, 2012
Twelve Steps ...
Just started reading Karen Armstrong's Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. I'm hooked already and I'm still reading the preface.
Charter for Compassion:
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
Music to my ears.
Charter for Compassion:
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
Music to my ears.
What I live for:
Well, it's been a while. Think I'll come back for a bit.
The following short story is an example of what I live for:
Spencer - "Mom, can you bring up the clutch from my high hat? ... like in the next 20 minutes?"
Mom - "OK". Only in my head it sounds like this, "Good thing I'm home right now, and that the school is only 5 minutes away, and that I'm not busy (mumble, mumble)."
Go to the music room, wrestle for a good 7 minutes or so with a high hat cymbal, stand, and what I think is the clutch attached for your foot at the bottom (in process, banged into the wall, smashed my finger, dropped my glasses then stepped on them). But this makes sense, right? A clutch should be for your foot. Finally I lug the whole contraption in to the school office where he has said he'll meet me. I see him walking by and not stopping, so I lean my head out to yell at him ... leaned I guess just a little too far because the door closed on me and I locked myself out. The office staff rescued me with a patient, "It's all right, ma'am".
Spencer joins me, sees the delivered package and looks at me incredulously, saying, "You brought the WHOLE thing?"
Mom - "Well, I couldn't figure out how to get the clutch off" as I'm pointing to it.
Spencer - Chortling, he tells me that what I'm pointing to is, in fact, a pedal. He then simply lifts up a cymbal, disattaches the clutch (which is nowhere near your foot), says "THIS is the clutch" and starts to walks away. Still chortling.
I remind him ever so kindly to say thank you, mom, while sticking out my tongue at him (like any other mature 47 year old mom who's just been embarrassed in front of the office staff).
He turns around, smiles that adorable disarming smile, and gives me a hug.
This is what I live for. Sooooo worth every minute!!
The following short story is an example of what I live for:
Spencer - "Mom, can you bring up the clutch from my high hat? ... like in the next 20 minutes?"
Mom - "OK". Only in my head it sounds like this, "Good thing I'm home right now, and that the school is only 5 minutes away, and that I'm not busy (mumble, mumble)."
Go to the music room, wrestle for a good 7 minutes or so with a high hat cymbal, stand, and what I think is the clutch attached for your foot at the bottom (in process, banged into the wall, smashed my finger, dropped my glasses then stepped on them). But this makes sense, right? A clutch should be for your foot. Finally I lug the whole contraption in to the school office where he has said he'll meet me. I see him walking by and not stopping, so I lean my head out to yell at him ... leaned I guess just a little too far because the door closed on me and I locked myself out. The office staff rescued me with a patient, "It's all right, ma'am".
Spencer joins me, sees the delivered package and looks at me incredulously, saying, "You brought the WHOLE thing?"
Mom - "Well, I couldn't figure out how to get the clutch off" as I'm pointing to it.
Spencer - Chortling, he tells me that what I'm pointing to is, in fact, a pedal. He then simply lifts up a cymbal, disattaches the clutch (which is nowhere near your foot), says "THIS is the clutch" and starts to walks away. Still chortling.
I remind him ever so kindly to say thank you, mom, while sticking out my tongue at him (like any other mature 47 year old mom who's just been embarrassed in front of the office staff).
He turns around, smiles that adorable disarming smile, and gives me a hug.
This is what I live for. Sooooo worth every minute!!
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