Put the fun back into your life
These days, a lot of us, myself included, get caught up in either worrying too much about the future or dwelling in the past.
I'm trying to make it a point to live in the present.
I found the best way to do it is to focus on the simple things that make you laugh and smile in your life.
Today happened to be full of them. Here are a few examples-
-Letting the tide wash over my running shoes during my morning run on Baker Beach
-Watching a load of stuffed animals tumble through one of the dryers at the neighborhood laundrymat.
-Catching up with an old friend who happened to come back to work at my workplace for the summer.
These are the moments that make you want to spin around and yell "Wheeeeeeee!" like Lisel von Trapp after she and Rolf shared a kiss in the von Trapp gazebo in "The Sound of Music".
Namaste
I remember that I would always say this word in thanks and gratitude after a challenging yoga class. It wasn't until today when I realized how thankful I am about my life and myself.
It happened to be at a friend's BBQ over in the Mission/ Potrero Hill area close to SF General. It took about an hour to get over via MUNI and BART and about 20 minutes of walking. Tony greeted me with a huge hug and smile. He pointed to the house rules which you would think at first would be a little strict. But he just wanted everyone to come in, have fun. The first rule and formost was if you see it and want to eat it, drink it, mix it, share it, etc, feel free. People brought an assortment of food and treats. Tony had a grill on the deck and some folks were putting in veggies, kabobs, brats, ribs, chicken legs and breasts on the grill. One of Tony's friends mixed in some tunes in the living room. Someone brought in some chocolate cookies. I eyed the pile of cookies, a can of whipped cream on ice and a tub of strawberries. With a little imagination, I put a dallop of whipped cream on top of a chocolate cookie and topped it with fresh berries. Some people were eyeing my creation with smiles.
A few hours before, I was with friends at Yet Wah for dim sum after church. It was my first social get together with Ina and our guys- Roger, Ariel, Mark, and Joffer. All of us attend the same Mass at Most Holy Redeemer. Joffer and Ariel know each other when they lived in New York City. Ina sings in the choir. I'm a lector and Mark is an accolate (basically a grown up altar server). Roger and Mark know each other from a festival in Vallejo that celebrated the patron saint of the place they grew up in the Philippines. Somehow, we all banded together and hung out. Roger, Mark and Ariel are nicely partnered but now finding a match for Joffer who newly arrived from New York earlier this year. The guys banter amongst themselves in Tagalog while Mark and Roger chat in Chabucano which is a very rough form of Spanish with Tagalog grammar. Funny that I would understand Mark and Roger when they would speak Chabucano. But when the boys chat in Tagalog, I would understand. I have yet to be comfortable to respond but hearing them is a comfort, a balm, a connection. Ina understands Tagalog as well but her speaking skills are a lot more limited than mine.
As I regal into my tale of my day, I realized when I was at Tony's place how thankful I really am. Before then and a lot of this week, I was dwelling in the things that I lacked and wished I had and stressed out over. The things that would keep me up at night and make my stomach queasy. Bills, the growing pile of laundry, lack of time, lack of motivation, wishing I had some money to drop on maybe a loaf of bread or even some milk. Cursing. Kicking myself in the ass for not getting the prayers done for the week. I'm not sure if it was the two beers I had, the chocolate cookies I had or some of the meat from the grill but looking at the blue sky and the sunshine in my former neighborhood, being surrounded by wonderful people in the most wonderful city in the world made me really thankful. And being thankful and giving thanks in what you have been given is the best balm to the ills that you would feel because you lack this and that.
So I sat there and listed and thanked God for the things at that moment: the blue skies, the sunshine, an afternoon off of work, actual work, loving family, great friends, living in San Francisco, healthly legs and heart and mind, the gift of cycling and running, my giving heart, my funny wit that keeps people smiling and giggling, a MUNI fast pass, the desert I concocted, grace and forgiveness for the times I have made mistakes and fell short, my undeniable passion for issues, my understanding of Tagalog and Spanish...I could go on and on but being greatful and thankful just made my blahs subside. I know that people have coaxed me to do this exercise whenever I am in a down and ugly funk. I would stubbornly comply and then feel its effects but until now, would still feel down about what brought me down.
However, today, I walked slowly back othe BART station from Tony's place. Stopped at Cody's after I got off at the Powell station. Grabbed the 38 Geary home from the Stockton and Geary stop. I was thankful to be in my own bed, with a jug of water to flush out my system and a copy of A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. I read a few pages before I napped. But woke up a little later, not feeling stressed out of what I lack, what I don't have, me falta(n), wala na (insert thing) ko...but being greatful and thankful.
So when you have the blahs and feel down, either take a piece of paper or clear your mind and just make a list of what you are thankful for. It doesn't have to be grand or mundane. You can even be thankful of just having another day in your life to fill with love, memories, lessons, etc.
With eyes closed, my hands in prayer position over my heart, I bow my head foward and say to you, "Namaste."
Fancy Milk and Eggs
Last week, I happened to get groceries at Bi-Rite in my old neighborhood in the Mission. I decided to splurge on Straus Family Farms milk and Marin Sun Farm eggs. Yes, they do cost me a bit more but it is sooo worth the taste.
I heard the spring is the optimal time for hens to lay eggs. After all, they're cooped up all winter in their little pens. Why not go out to the field, bask in the sun, grab some worms and grub and lay eggs with yolks that are the color of sunflowers. I swear they look like liquid gold. And the taste is phenomenal! I made a quiche out of these eggs and they are just great to have. I didn't mind at all paying the $6 a dozen. I sung high praises to the owner. And they are coming out with fresh chickens too to be sold at the stand.
I've had Straus Family Farms milk before. Daniel, Catherine's boyfriend, calls it fancy milk. It comes in an old fashioned bottle and the cream rises to the top. At first, I had a hard time pouring the milk when I first opened it because of the layer of cream. But after a good vigorous shaking of the bottle, the cream dispursed and I had wonderful milk to go with the toffee chocolate chip cookies I indugled in while taking a nice warm bath last week. Ahhh...
I swear, once you know where you food comes from, eating is so much more fun.
