As a proud, card carrying member of the New York Public Library, I usually spend at least a few moments among her aisles each weekend. My recent visit led to an interesting conversation with the ancient security guard at the exit. (She is very diligent in her duties, and I shudder to think what her course of action might be should she run across a book that wasn't on the receipt!)
I was wearing my Love Conquers Hate human rights campaign t-shirt, and she read my shirt aloud as she check my backpack and my receipt. She then asked, "You know how you do that?" For whatever reason, I said the first thing that popped into my mind. "Yes, one choice at a time," I answered. Even as the words came out of my mouth, I thought wow, that's a pretty good answer on the spot! She apparently agreed with my self-assessment; she smiled, handed me my backpack, and said, "Now, that's a good answer."
Even small choices affect our lives and the lives around us.
“Alice came to a fork in the road. 'Which road do I take?' she asked.
'Where do you want to go?' responded the Cheshire Cat.
'I don't know,' Alice answered.
'Then,' said the Cat, 'it doesn't matter.”
(Lewis Carroll - Alice in Wonderland)
I want to go towards love and peace for all peoples. Let's start there.
Peace to you!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Space Enough
A beautiful, albeit hot and humid, few weeks have transpired since my last blog. I must confess that I find it hard sometimes to organize all my thoughts and get them down on paper computer screen. I am writing more, which is a wonderful feeling for me, but my scattered brain is living in full blown crazy-town at the moment. Luckily, it is not the crazy-town as in what the hell am I doing here? It's the other one...you know...the I am beautifully overwhelmed by this amazing thing called life. Between writing, working, exploring, reading, studying french, and enjoying married life, I sleep well and laugh often.
Last Sunday we went in search of a quiet, sunny spot on the upper side of Central Park. The day did not disappoint--truthfully, few days disappoint in our little city. While the lower portion of Central Park is filled with a billion tourists, magicians, and over priced food, ($3 for ONE churro! --no thanks) the upper section is quiet, peaceful and perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. And then a comical event occurred. Imagine this massive hilly field peppered with huge trees throwing shady spots throughout. There were others about, but we had given the space of at least fifty feet between the next. We had silently agreed to allow each their own little world for the day. The wifey was half asleep and I was reading (or perhaps butchering) Le Petit Prince aloud. Over the top of the hill comes a family. They apparently did not read the silent agreement for tranquil spaces and proceeded to set up camp about five feet from us! Perhaps they were just tired and needed to rest in the shade of our tree before going on to their destination; I would certainly share a moment of rest. While wondering about the odd predicament, I found myself dodging a scooter as one of the smaller children zoomed down towards the bottom of the hill. I knew it was time for us to move on to greener pastures when they brought out their radio; This was no pit stop, they had moved in to stay!
I wanted to get angry by the lack of consideration, but to do so would have thrown an air of negativity into an otherwise magnificent day. So, we packed up our homestead for the day and went in search of another spot. Our second spot was just as beautiful and peaceful, so we found ourselves enjoying, not one, but two, views and atmospheres for the day. It's funny as I think of it. I realized that I could choose the atmosphere of the rest of our day. Life is like that. There are many unexpected, and yes, even irritating, things that are thrown at us every day, but it is ultimately up to us how they affect our mood.
Peace.
Last Sunday we went in search of a quiet, sunny spot on the upper side of Central Park. The day did not disappoint--truthfully, few days disappoint in our little city. While the lower portion of Central Park is filled with a billion tourists, magicians, and over priced food, ($3 for ONE churro! --no thanks) the upper section is quiet, peaceful and perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. And then a comical event occurred. Imagine this massive hilly field peppered with huge trees throwing shady spots throughout. There were others about, but we had given the space of at least fifty feet between the next. We had silently agreed to allow each their own little world for the day. The wifey was half asleep and I was reading (or perhaps butchering) Le Petit Prince aloud. Over the top of the hill comes a family. They apparently did not read the silent agreement for tranquil spaces and proceeded to set up camp about five feet from us! Perhaps they were just tired and needed to rest in the shade of our tree before going on to their destination; I would certainly share a moment of rest. While wondering about the odd predicament, I found myself dodging a scooter as one of the smaller children zoomed down towards the bottom of the hill. I knew it was time for us to move on to greener pastures when they brought out their radio; This was no pit stop, they had moved in to stay!
I wanted to get angry by the lack of consideration, but to do so would have thrown an air of negativity into an otherwise magnificent day. So, we packed up our homestead for the day and went in search of another spot. Our second spot was just as beautiful and peaceful, so we found ourselves enjoying, not one, but two, views and atmospheres for the day. It's funny as I think of it. I realized that I could choose the atmosphere of the rest of our day. Life is like that. There are many unexpected, and yes, even irritating, things that are thrown at us every day, but it is ultimately up to us how they affect our mood.
Peace.
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