For Compassion #1000Speak

“How would your life be different if…

You stopped making negative judgmental assumptions about people you encounter?

Let today be the day…

You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey.”

― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free   

This is my contribution to the unique global movement called 1000 Voices for Compassion. Today, the 20th February 2015, over 1000 bloggers worldwide are publishing posts about compassion. It is an effort to spread goodness and compassion in a world torn by strife and violence. Spread the love using the hashtag #1000Speak. Join the 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion group on Facebook.

 

Just Jazzy 118

I cut an inch off of every straw I see, just to make the world suck a little less.
 (Jarod Kintz, This Book Has No Title)

Think Positive! Be an optimist in challenging times!
When you are in the middle of a mess of epic proportions, think to yourself –
Wow – I’m having an Epic Day!

Just Jazzy 99

Positive thoughts make positive outcomes.

Laugh loud. Smile large. Choose to make this a beautiful day.

Grandma Tarot Gives Good Advice

Junon, card II of Tarot de Besançon, 1818, Strasbourg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’m subscribed to an app on facebook that sends me Tarot Card readings in my e-mail every day, and some days it’s like receiving random sage advice from an ancient relative, like my grandma, for example.  She was very free with her advice even if it didn’t make a lot of sense.  Once she told me that if I ever poked myself with a sewing needle I should make sure it was threaded so that it would be easier to pull out.  I’ve never had to heed those words of wisdom, but I’ve certainly never forgotten them either.This new substitute grandma I’ve adopted is rarely that confusing, and sometimes borders on inspirational.  Everyone could use a little stimulus and motivation in their lives.  And it’s easier to accept these words to the wise when they’re not repeated six times and followed by are you listening to me??

So here’s some excellent guidance that I’ve received in the last little while, which I can take or leave on a whim and nobody’s feelings get hurt.  In real life I tend to have very selective hearing so I’ve carried that over to the printed word and picked out only what I consider to be the good parts.

1.  Keep your attention on the positive.  (Yep, negativity can kill you.)  (I’m totally serious, it can.)

2.  Give yourself a day off if you can.  Get some rest. (I would like to take this to heart every single day for the rest of my life but if I don’t win the lottery, perhaps I’ll have to settle for every second day.)

3.  Don’t try to push things that are not important.  Don’t let minor arguments or misunderstandings get under your skin.  (Hmmph. Easy for you to say.  Hard for me to do.  So I’ll just not allow the fact that you said that to get under my skin.)

4. You just may surprise yourself with how well you do under pressure.  (Or, you just may surprise yourself with how completely you freak out and then crumble into a weeping mess.  It’s a toss up.  But try to remain positive. And get up off the floor for heavens sake.)

5.  Get out there and play like a carefree child.  You need to get out of the house and have some fun right now.  (Go away, I’m playing word games on my I-Phone.)

6.  There will be wonderful news and exciting possibilities coming your way through different forms of communication.  Information about the past will be a benefit to your future.  (Really?  Are you suggesting that I shouldn’t have cancelled the newspaper?  I must admit I was a bit miffed when they wouldn’t let me put a five month vacation stop on it.)

7. You are even hotter today than yesterday.  Unforgettable energy is pouring from your love sectors.  You will attract attention no matter where you go.  (HAHAHA!  YES!  I will be laughing so hard about that one all day that many people will begin to watch me carefully while questioning the state of my mental health.) (I will later google love sectors to find out what the hell they are.)

8.  Don’t be a stick in the mud.  (I’m not.  I’m looking up love sectors, aren’t I?)

9.  You may find that your creative talents provide an unexpected spiritual outlet.  (Huh. That would be nice.)

10.  You feel that you are being misunderstood right now by just about everybody, no matter what you say or do.  (No I don’t!  Shut up!) You are tempted to sneak quietly away and never come back. (I’m running away from home as we speak,) But will that change anything? (YES! ) Probably not. (Oh.)  Don’t give up on your dreams just yet. (Okay, fine. As if you know everything.)

Thank you adopted grandmother Tarot.  You are one smart cookie.

Mastering Recipes and Other Myths

You have to take a cup of what you think, stir in a few ounces of what you feel, and sprinkle generously with what you do.
If what you think is positive, what you feel is joyous, and what you do is loving then you will always create a glorious dinner of delight and happiness for yourself and others.  (Joseph Mozzella)

You know how there are recipes claiming to be quick, simple and easy – the ‘never fail’ kind? All BS. I can ruin anything. All it takes is a stubborn attitude and a misguided belief that doing things a little differently will make the outcome better.

Sometimes this works! Even more times it doesn’t.  But I can’t seem to stop myself from experimenting.

I believe I have mastered bread stuffing, potato soup and the ‘I don’t know what to call this’ chicken that we once had at Montanas. It’s a chicken breast with barbecue sauce, crisp bacon and melted cheese. Looks relatively uncomplicated until you start putting it all together and trying to get everything to end up cooked exactly right at the exact same moment without burning anything including yourself. And no, I’m not telling you how I did it at last, because that would make things too damned simple for you. Figure it out on your own.

My next culinary challenge is to convince W. that we should eat out at least once a day. Three times would be even better, but I don’t want to push my luck. Meanwhile (and I hope you can appreciate the method to my madness) I will continue to come up with suspicious looking concoctions for his dining pleasure.

And we will continue to have chocolate covered raisins out of a bag for dessert. Seriously, they’re good for you. They have iron or something in them. And they always turn out pretty much exactly like you expected them to.