reflecting

my friend, elizabeth, made an observation recently and had some interesting thoughts to share.

"I was actually looking at this shiny piece in a stone the other day (I have no idea what that's called, but you know how there are shiny metallic bits in some rocks?), and the sun was shining in such a way that this tiny little bit was reflecting the light so intensely. I had to look away it was so bright, the same way that snow or water can feel a little blinding when the sun's causing them to reflect its light. So I thought, well, isn't that how it is with people? I mean, that little shiny bit in the rock was shining so brightly, but it wasn't even a light itself. It was just reflecting. I believe that people have light within them, but that we as humans also have the ability to reflect light just like that shiny bit. So our value isn't just in shining our own lights, but in reflecting any light that comes our way, like the light from others, so where there were once merely two brightly shining lights, there are now beams of light so astonishing we make have to look away for a moment. It's like we have super powers to multiply light.”

i love the idea that when people get together their light gathers and grows. i hope that the people who read this share their light and reflect light coming from people they know.

odd but good

i tell ya, hormones are amazing. i can only assume it was those funny body chemicals that kept me in a good mood all day. i had more than my usual difficulties today, yet i feel fine. boy, i wish i could figure out how to make this happen at will.

food

i was at a party recently and we were discussing desserts in particular, but also sweet vs. salty tastes. if you'd like to participate, please check out the survey to the right.

we discussed how we rate favorite desserts. the order of my choices would be: ice cream, brownies, cookies, pie, cake. some people put cake much higher than i did. how would you order them?

the conversation brought my thoughts around to the way many people use food to comfort themselves when they're feeling low. something sweet usually improves my mood. maybe the comfort food depends on your tastes, which is when i thought of my survey.

coincidentally, on msn.com today they had an article called "The Good Mood Diet". it turns out there is some science behind comfort foods. just like sunshine, carbohydrates (cookies, bagels, etc.) increase serotonin, that hormone that helps us be happy.

of course always in moderation, but i like my old button that said, "life is short, eat dessert first!"

change

from what i understand, buddhists believe that we are always changing. the person we are at 10 pm is different from the person we are at 10:05 pm. there is always a possible change for the better just around the corner. though, buddhists focus on the present moment, not the one that hasn't happened yet. i do have a point....

sometimes our changes are so small we don't notice them until months or years have passed. other times, our changes are so big we don't know how to deal with them. i'm feeling changes of the second type and muddling my way through them. i mostly want to say, "thank you," to my friends and family who are listening to me and supporting me while i'm figuring things out for myself. if you're going through big changes, you are not alone. i wish you the same love and support i receive.

here's a song i like lately. i've heard it sung by doris day. i don't know who wrote it. i've substituted a couple of my own words.

when i was a little girl
i asked my mother, what will i be?
will i be happy? will i have fun?
here's what she said to me
que sera sera
whatever will be will be
the future's not ours to see
que sera sera
what will be will be

so, here's to living in the moment and taking the changes as they come!

happy birthday to me!

mine was yesterday : )

birthdays have so many connotations. if you're 9 years old, you're excited, looking forward to parties and presents. if you're 19, you're just dying to be 21. if you're 29 or 39 or 49 or 59, you might be dreading the next BIG one. that's when you start getting the consolation of, "it's better than the alternative!"

the only number i've struggled with so far was 35. i felt it was the end of my youth. i was officially a grown-up... ugh! since then i've gotten used to the idea. i've made peace with being a grown-up. it is only through growing up that i have discovered and developed (still doing so) my oh-so-important light.

so here are some new ways i like to think about birthdays:
We are all born for love. It is the principle of existence, and its only end.
...Benjamin Disraeli
We turn not older with the years but newer every day.
...Emily Dickenson
May you live all the days of your life.
...Jonathan Swift

birthdays are good days to really appreciate the moment you are experiencing. this is something i try to practice daily. to feel light in any given moment is a precious gift, and it is all i need for my birthday. wishing you many moments full of light.

children's books

when was the last time you read a children's book? let me recommend them, not just for kids, but for everyone. they can lift your mood! they won't increase your seratonin like sunshine, but they offer simple stories, nice messages, and often, great art work. they are calorie free and available no matter what the weather. they require just a few minutes and can stay with you for as long as you keep them in your thoughts. if you don't own any, get to your local library or browse at a bookstore.

as a teacher and lover of books, i'll offer some recommendations.

for silly rhymes -
anything by dr. seuss, my favorite is
mr. brown can moo, can you?

for worriers -
the monster at the end of this book
written by jon stone, illustrated by mike smollin

for imagination & inspiration -
harold and the purple crayon
written and illustrated by crockett johnson

for feeling loved -
corduroy
written and illustrated by don freeman

from my favorite illustrator -
for trying your best -
perfect puppy
written by stephanie calmenson, illustrated by thomas f. yezerski

for commiserating -
alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day written by judith viorst, illustrated by ray cruz

enjoy!

light

you may have noticed, i talk a lot about light. it is a connection to spirituality for me. i don't believe in one religion alone. i don't believe there is only one way to look at life. i make room for the possibility of more than one right answer. no one knows the answers. when i think about spirituality, i go with what makes me feel good. light brings those positive feelings for me.

please note: i don't try to make anyone believe the way i do. i just share my thoughts.


there's a christian song, 'this little light of mine.' here's my adaptation:

this bright light of mine
i'm gonna let it shine...
and
you have it too
i'll help you let it shine...
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine

quakers (friends) believe that we all have a 'light within.' there is 'that of God' in all of us. i agree. not everyone knows they have it. not everyone pays attention to it. certainly, not everyone acts on it. yet, i believe it is there.

so i am here to shine my light as far as i can. i will continue to share my smile and look for the light within each person i meet.

peace

i recently watched the dvd "jimmy carter: man from plains" and was reminded of what one person can do to promote peace. he inspires me.

i doubt i'm ambitious enough to do something worthy of the nobel peace prize, but i'm so glad there are people out there who are.

dr. martin luther king, jr. was only 35 years old when he was given that award. i really like this quote from him: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

i look up to these men and hope to follow their example in whichever way i can. i hope this blog will make some small step toward a more peaceful world.