Lebanese

We sat at the show watching the musicians, listening and admiring the passion in their work.   My friend and I  both noticed some people sitting close talking, whispering and pointing.  My friend said, "Look they are in love with the lead singer."  We both laughed and wondered what it would be like to be  admired with such tenacity.  The two across the way continued, giggling, looking, whispering and taking pictures.  My friend and I both thought, "WOW( and other thoughts)."  After awhile one of the admirers walked over and inquired as to how to get a CD and went on to say,  "I  went to school with the lead singer and it is so to  GREAT see him  now, you know when I was in high school he was one of the few people who talked to me.  He made such a difference in  my life, for awhile he was my best friend, my only friend.  I have really missed him." She continued to express gratitude, smile  and share goodness with us.  And when she mentioned that she was Lebanese the connection between she and my friend clicked.  I am thankful the two did not begin rattling off a conversation in Arabic because I never understand an utterance of it...

From an  observation point of view I calculated, judged, separated and surmised thoughts that were just shy of kind and loving and within minutes of embracing these thoughts I was confronted  by the source and  immediately  I changed my thoughts to forgiveness and gratitude.   

I felt like such a donkey for choosing  almost negative thoughts and frustrated that I did not just notice beauty in the two across the way.  

In retrospect, NOW  I am thankful for the experience  and the reminder that ..................

Life is a choice  

Perception is a choice  

Love is a choice 

Health is a choice 

Friends are a choice 

Forgiveness is a choice

Gratitude is a choice   

Abundance is a choice

Peace is a choice

Thank you Choices!!

Safe Way

We jetted in  to pick up some parsley and water.  Cortni spotted them down the first aisle.  I quickly began cackling like a rooster and they both turned to see what was shaking.  When they saw us we all laughed out loud in the aisle near the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.  He said they were buying fixings for a tuna melt, this sounded  soooooo good, but we were buying fixings for a healthy, healing lunch at  home of spaghetti squash, cauliflower, jalapeno, quinoia, lentils, brown rice, feta cheese, parsley and cilantro.......! We  all hugged and kissed once on each side and parted ways, still laughing and cackling like old lady hens...   We met again at the express check out line.  I noticed, SHE, (instead of he)  was carrying the basket which she set down and rechecked the items they were going to purchase.  He said, " These stickers are for the chart, so when she does not have cig, she gets a sticker."  This triggered a thought I had the night before of something Jake said regarding Haiti and all the turmoil.  He made reference to being aware of the catastrophe and mindful of ways to help out.  As I stood there staring at the stickers, thinking of Haiti I was squirming for words to say, they both looked at me blankly and then he said, "Well did you like what I said about Haiti?"  I said, "No, I mean YES, I mean NO, I mean I like what you said, however I just notice so much poverty, turmoil, death, tragedy and so on HERE, I just do not understand the reason for one helping people thousands of miles away when they don't help their neighbors."  He looked at me with a smile and I attempted to talk and explain myself about what I wanted to say and what I was saying is that Yes, it's great to help out, however why do we find such glory and honor in helping only occasionally  and on a large, global scale, is it cool, is it in, is is a fad, is it like a ribbon sticker on a car?    It seems that  helping is a continuous offering, especially between our neighbors, family, friends,  community and village.  Is it noble to mail socks 3000 miles away when the man 2 doors down has cold toes, but last year he put dog poop in our mail box, so I am not giving him socks- I will mail them to strangers because this makes me feel good. And in addition everyone else is doing it! HUM.... We continued to jabber jaw, I attempted to swipe my card, and still talking, not paying attention, and the man said, "Mam, this is an EXPRESS LANE!"  I said, " Oh, Oh, sorry."  And he smiled and laughed at me cause I continued to talk and still fumble with the payment part of the deal.  I said good bye  to the clerk and uttered the name on his tag, he corrected my pronunciation and laughed harder at me, really he did.  We left and I laughed too, cause I was having goofy  behavior, failing at multi- tasking.  On our walk to the car Cortni said,  "Did you hear what the clerk  said before he scanned our items, " I said, " No, of course not, are you kidding, I was talking a hundred miles an hour, I would not of heard an elephant walk by."  She said,  "He said- Welcome to another day in  Paradise! Note to self-

PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS!

LET GO OF SELF IMPORTANCE AND EAGERNESS TO EXPRESS BECAUSE SOMETHING ELSE IS ALWAYS MORE IMPORTANT- THAN BEING RIGHT..

Would I rather be right or happy?    HAPPY

A random act of kindness is negated the moment I am boastful about the act!

It no longer becomes random rather intentional and purposeful and demonstrates   a platform for attention,

external kudos and admiration form others.