Beginning anew

Today was supposed to be spent developing a program for work, and it ended up mostly being consumed with non-profit work. Well, it needed doing.

Lots of people say that they're beginning anew, but what they're really saying is that they're going to give a new stab at things. This is actually beginning from the point of origin.

I'm re-posting something my friend Ann emailed me today - it's lovely and inspiring, and neatly fits in with my recent thinking about the ever present words "Love thy neighbor as thyself" or, more succinctly put "do unto others as you would have others do unto you".

Doesn't that suggest that our awareness must expand to include how others are cared for when they are down or in harm's way? To include how we view our own path through the world and how we leave it for others?

I have a lot more to say on this subject, but am about to skedaddle for a meditation service I'm going to conduct.

Here's Ann's email:

Handbook 2009



Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.

6. Play more games.

7. Read more books than you did in 2008.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes' walk every day. And while you walk, smile.



Personality:

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

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

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

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

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

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

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



Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

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

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



Life:

32. Do the right thing!

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

34. GOD heals everything.

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

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

37. The best is yet to come.

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy, smile.

40. Pray daily.

This was indeed a first for me

I went tonight to see "Angels and Demons" with Robert - we were in an AMC theater that had, quite truthfully, confusing bathroom signage.  After the show, we were both headed into the men's room and he paused as he was walking in to make sure it was the men's and not the women's.

As he passed through the door, he said "I had to make sure."  Then, as we moved into the toilet area, he said "you know, I have to be careful.  Twice I've walked into the women's.  There have been some arrests."

Man, I had to work but I pulled together "Oh, yeah - that one was when you were dressed like Marie Antoinette.  But, which was the other costume again?  Was that the Betsy Ross, or the Carmen Miranda?"

EVERY urinal was occupied.  One guy started to crack up.  Robert quipped "Be nice to me, I was young and I had to make some money." 

Me:  "But, that was last week!"

Open chuckling among all the pissoir patronage.  One guy says "This is just wrong for a bathroom conversation."

Robert: "Yeah, and my ankle still hurts from those high heels!"

Me:  "Oh, so it WAS the Carmen Miranda!"

Now, everyone in the men's room is openly laughing.

We walk over to the sinks, and my soap dispenser dispenses nothing.

Me:  "I thought soap dispensers were designed to dispense soap.  This is against the laws of nature!"

More howling.

As the troops trooped out, every prior visitor to the WC was telling their lady about the hilarity.

Time for a new rule!  Men can have social time in the men's room, too!