Both my husband and his mother truly love(d) the art of cooking. To watch someone derive happiness from such an act of creativity is inspirational. I really believe we can derive the same sense of wonder and joy out of everyday life. We all know some people in our lives who just seem to always radiate an inner happiness and serenity. They do not have to be necessarily "gorgeous on the outside" but the inner beauty seeps through into a presence that can light up the darkest of moments ~~ often with a simple smile. This person can be young, old or somewhere in the middle... this person could be YOU...! It is difficult to know why or how these inspirational people can keep the positive attitude ongoing through the most difficult adversities of life. I have subtly asked this very question in my community client assessments with the homeless, as I found this group to be most inspiring. By great majority, those I spoke to found their past trauma had given them an increased faith and the strong determination to keep going. So, if I substituted life for meal and cook for our loved ones, I am thinking that these seven steps, sounds like a never-fail recipe for a balanced life.. "If it's sanity you're after, there's no recipe like laughter." When the Pot is Boiling Over![]() So, there is no doubt indeed that the kitchen we call life can be a mighty stressful place to be at times. It's hard enough to think about getting through the day~~ let alone setting the table with cloth napkins and fresh flowers, are you kidding me? And, if I could see the amount of work you had piled up at work~~ Or hear the boss that was screaming down your throat about a project that was late by a day~~ And, then your kid who forgot to let you know about the 24 cupcakes needed by "tomorrow" - and I completely forgot _______ (well you fill it in/ it is different for all of us and I suspect it happens to the best of us...!) The cold reality is, however, that all of the stress (along with all of the joy, beauty and happiness in our world)... can be over in a flash~~ whether an accident, an illness, or a trauma that totally took you off guard... life is that fragile. In no way does this reality mean to dampen anyone's zest for living; in fact, it is a strong reminder not to overly dwell on the inevitably negative factors that temporarily invade our day. Selecting the cupcake situation in the above paragraph as a stressor~~ a possible solution would be to escort my young lad to the store after dinner so he could select his cupcakes, along with a reminder about the importance of reminding Mommy the weekend before for planning purposes. Keeping communication open and non-defensive at work is key. Your boss has spouted off about a deadline (you realize it is so very stressful for him)~~ he is apologizing and bringing in donuts the next day, thanking everyone for a job well done. Leaders like this are respected and a pleasure to work for~~ even better, if you enjoy the type of work you are doing. Sadly, there are abusive situations where one needs to evaluate if it is the healthiest work setting ~~ while balancing home factors as well. This is so much better when one has a loving and nurturing home environment to come home to. In closing, I wanted to round out my recipe for a balanced life by adding a little "Food for Thought" by my dear Mother... she left this for me in one of my journals... "My Dear One~~ I wish for you the best of health always, happiness in whatever life brings you and true peace of mind. Whenever possible, always put away your cares and worries before you retire for the night. Leave your mind free preparing for its necessary sleep and rest. A new day will arrive with dawn. With much love, Mom (July, 2000)" Speaking of Mom, I know she would have loved this 'new' song by a gal who is 83 years old and going strong... Loretta Lynn: "Who's Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone?" Check out some more 'food for thought' by indie biz bloggers...
•Tips for Talent Club: Encouraging the Art of Giving via Graceful Intentions •Training you, so others lose their jobs via WarnerWords •Farmacopeia: Lemongrass for musculoskeletal trouble via flashPress Until next week, wishing you peace. mar
22 Comments
Kimmie
2/24/2016 08:42:54 am
Dear Maria you always put things into prospective and truly warm my heart. Thank you for a beautiful post.
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Ahhhhh...."Balance." What a wonderful concept! Maria honey, I've been struggling for decades to find that "balance" & I'm never giving up!
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Mike
2/24/2016 09:55:53 am
As usual you serve a full plate. The rules listed above do not seem to be posted on my refrigerator. This post is certainly food for thought.
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Fabulous advice, dear Mar. I really like the part where you remind us "not to overly dwell on the inevitably negative." That's so important. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the moment, until we look around and see that life is fragile and like a vapor. Great words of wisdom from your Mom, as always. Love.
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Prof. M,
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Nancy Collier
2/24/2016 03:16:58 pm
Maria,
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2/24/2016 06:53:31 pm
I loved reading this. I just returned from visiting my son in ark. I missed seeing your story on ID. I get that channel here on 192. I wanted to see it so badly. I am not a great cook, but I enjoy good food and your recipe for a balanced life. Your mother's food for thought was precious. I love you. Thank you for the beautiful card.
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Dear Maria,
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Shyron
2/29/2016 03:53:56 pm
Dear sweet Maria, every day the pot boils over and this whole week the pot boiled over and spilled into the next day.
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crazyhorseladycx
3/21/2016 01:49:09 am
howdy, ms. mar!
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Dear Lady,
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