Another Happy Blog Post

My father (I call him abajan, or dad in Urdu) likes to send me inspirational whosits and whatsits all the time. Here's one that you could definitely break out whenever you're feeling low or disheveled, or if you're in the need for a nice alternative to prayer. It's a 90 year old columnist in Cleveland, OH who's spreading some generation to generation (dor l'dor as we say in Hebrew) inspiration. As my grandmother says, use it in good health :-).

Written by a 90 year old

This is something we should all read at least once a week!

Make sure you read to the end!

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer Newspaper, Cleveland ,Ohio .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time.. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come....

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Lessons

"Blessings only come to those who notice."

(Dove candy wrapper that has traveled with me since high school)

I’m learning a lot from random places. For all the years I’ve spent learning about things listed under category headings or course descriptions, now the lessons are coming sporadically, and you have to keep your head up and your ears perked just to catch them. Being a student of the real world is its own quirky challenge, just like being a student at any school.

Actually one thing that’s been really tricky is learning the patience to be a good student of the real world. Or maybe it’s just the patience to learn independently, since I haven’t had a prof nudging me along or leaving me clues. It takes a while! Especially when you’re collecting evidence and factoids sporadically, as they arrive in the form of (mostly) unsolicited feedback. You have to read between the lines a lot more. And you have to trust your interpretations more; the homework doesn’t come with an answer sheet in the back of a book.

Quaker meeting is where this finally came together for me. I am not Quaker, but I went to a Quaker high school and I am a big fan of the way Quakers approach the divine. Firstly, I really like their emphasis on silence. It certainly took some getting used to (I wouldn’t even swallow for my first 4 months of silent meetings, it seemed so loud. Try not swallowing for 40 minutes sometime – it’s surprisingly difficult), but boy is it a gift to be allowed to sit, with the energy of a thoughtful, supportive community pooling around you, and to let your thoughts roam. It creates a spiritual place without spiritual pressure, and it was the first place that felt safe and welcoming enough for me to begin to grapple with the idea of the divine. There’s such a sense of purpose, in a room of silent people. Such a willingness to look at each other and ourselves and our problems, and, without the pressure of speaking, take the time to really see what’s there.

But there’s one thing in particular that I think the Quakers have gotten especially right. Quakers believe that the divine exists all around us, in every human being we ever encounter. Whether there is a greater spiritual figure in Heaven or elsewhere, I don’t know, but this I’m pretty sure about. Coming back to Quaker meeting this year, after four years away, was an incredible reminder that I can’t try too hard to guide my life where I want it to go. We can’t always know what path we’re on, and where it’s leading. I’ve been so focused this year on living a deliberate life, to pursue the career I want, to travel to the places I want to see, to have the experiences I want to have, but living deliberately can become so calculating that you forget to be in the moment and open to what’s around you. (I spoke about this at meeting in January. It was kind of amazing, actually – it’s been so long since that potent energy thundered through my chest, the sudden, demanding certainty that I’m about to speak; I have to. I remembered Nura Yingling, my creative writing teacher at Tandem, answering the question, “when should you stand and speak at Meeting?” with, “when your heart is beating so hard against the walls of your chest that you have to speak, or it will burst through.” She’s an old hippie elder filled with more light and rainbows than should be allowed in a human body, but she’s not wrong.) You just don’t know where your lessons and revelations will come from, so you have to watch for them. Blessings, and lessons, only come to those who notice.

For When We Have Strong Beautiful Daughters

Biological clock may be ticking a bit too fast here in NC, but I read this article and couldn't help but go "Yup, Ima do that (and/or something like it-- maybe sports) when I got me a daughter." Thought I'd go ahead and share it with you.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/how-to-talk-to-little-gir_b_882510.html?utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%20Brief&utm_campaign=daily_brief

You know it's going on. I know it's going on. Wanna open the can with me?

I visited Kevin/Robin/Jess last week when I was up in Boston for Rosh Hashanah. During this brief visit, me and Robin got into a discussion about the can of worms that could potentially put friendships at risk: what do we think of the Occupy Wall Street movement that's sweeping the country. Being Colbyians, it was a really fruitful discussion that let out our viewpoints on the matter, despite the fact that we came from two very different places. (God I love Colbyians).

As a person who spent a year studying social justice and three years at Colby studying anthropology, I have become very aware of the inequalities that exist between the advantaged and the disadvantaged in our country and our world. Most importantly, I am always in favor of the value that comes with speaking out against societal issues for the sake of furthering a common good, and to always engage in dialogue about social movements to better understand them. I see speaking out being a dialogue, not a debate, where human experience and understanding each other for collective learning is goals. Thus, I'd like very much to open a discussion, perhaps, about our impressions and about our thoughts of a movement started by our generation, because I know that you all will have experiences and viewpoints that are valuable to bring up with such a contentious issue.

Whaddya say? If yes, answer the following question:

What are your thoughts on the Wall Street protests (and like-minded protests all over the country)? Is this the "Vietnam backlash" of our age, or is it something that is misguided idealism and will only further divide our nation?

If no, call me up and let's talk :-)

Vote for Robyn Wardell: Fresh Food Educator

Dunno if y'all got the facebook event, but I thought I'd send it off anyway. Robyn Wardell is pushing for a grant to bring local farmers and fresh produce into the impoverished and undernourished community of Flint, Michigan. If she gets enough votes, she could get the funding! Check it out here:

http://makerchallenge.maker.good.is/projects/bringafarmertoschool