A Gift Of Rumi For My Flowers

“Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, 
not thunder."   ~   Rumi

I wanted to give this photograph of our vinca minor a good send off. In the process of his yard project Saeed has eliminated the bed where this was growing. I will miss my tiny violet flowers. Maybe I can plant more somewhere else!

Note: I found this post written but unpublished from November 2012, so entered it today. 

Thich Nhat Hanh

My spiritual teacher has passed away at age 95. He has been with me for a very long time. I feel gutted and yet he did not believe in death. 

"This body is not me; I am not caught in this body, I am life without boundaries.”

“Tomorrow, I will continue to be. But you will have to be very attentive to see me. I will be a flower or a leaf. I will be in these forms and I will say hello to you. If you are attentive enough, you will recognize me, and you may greet me. I will be very happy.”

"I am a continuation like the rain is a continuation of the cloud."

I don't remember exactly how I discovered Thầy (means teacher in Vietnamese) but I think it was when I became a vegetarian and was learning about non-violence. That would have been in the '90's. I have several of his books and CDs, and I have a quote of his taped above my computer.  My email signature is something I heard him say that was so profound; I've heard nothing better since:

My actions are my only true belongings.

I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.
My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

You will see it in the list of quotes to the right, sixth one down. 

When I hear his gentle voice something comes over me, a calmness, a soothing salve that flows over me no matter what he's saying. Like a mother's voice to her baby. Fortunately, there are many recordings and I can listen to him whenever I want. 

Rather than write about his life, I will paste a link to his biography here. What quickly becomes clear is that he was an activist; he used his practice to make a difference in this world. I'm not sure he coined this term but it's called Engaged Buddhism. Martin Luther King, Jr. nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Before Thầy died I was following his sangha on the internet (Plum Village) as well as a podcast (The Way Out is In) hosted by the abbot of Plum Village and Thầy's personal attendant for many years, Brother Pháp Hũu. I will continue on my path to learn about Thầy's teachings and am so grateful for the abundance of information available to me. 

Perhaps less writing in this post is best. Thầy said things simply. Every word counted. I will end with one of his sayings and leave it at that. 

Awareness is like the sun.

When it shines on things,

they are transformed.

Whole Foods Plant Based Diet To Stay Healthy

Since 2014 I haven't changed much other than adding a few more wrinkles. I'm still interested in the welfare of animals and eating plants to improve health. What may have changed a bit is how tight we've had to get to keep H's coronary artery disease at bay. We've moved to a Whole-Foods Plant-Based diet (meaning no animal products), no added SOS (sugars, oils, salt) per the "Essie" way of eating.

Affectionately nicknamed Essie, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn continues to tweak his recommendations but the above description remains the same. H is, for the most part, very compliant with Dr. Esselstyn's recommendations and I credit his not having another cardiac event with his adherence to this diet and regular exercise. The last time he was in the hospital (Sept. 5, 2017) a radical procedure was suggested by one of his cardiologists. After much research on the doctors who could perform this new procedure and researching the risks of having it performed, H decided against it. I'm really proud of his determination, bravery, and intelligence in seeking out the best path for himself.

I truly believe in trying to stay off medications and out of hospitals. Meds have their place and hospital procedures can save lives, but I've seen too many negative side effects of both - including death. Working in a doctor's office I see first hand the problems of our current healthcare system. Have high blood pressure? Here, take a pill. Have high cholesterol? Here, have another pill. Your potassium level too low from your BP med? Here, take some potassium. Muscle aches from statin? Here, take some mobic. And on it goes. NOBODY is talking about diet and lifestyle to stay healthy. My aim is to stay off all meds if possible and I'm doing what I can to make that happen. If I end up on a Rx it won't be for lack of trying.

Some people say they can't change what they eat, go without their ___________ (fill in the blank) but I say, "Don't be a wienie." Don't like eating greens? Tough beans, eat them anyway. Don't like eating beans? Tough beans (ha ha), eat them anyway. Can't live without cheese? Fine, but be prepared to pay the consequences. Sounds pretty harsh and I'm a wienie myself sometimes, but I'm trying hard.

Since I'm pretty sure no one reads my blog I may use it as a place to store articles and videos I like that I don't want to post elsewhere. That way I can be as free and transparent as I want, without worrying about being politically correct or hurting someone's feelings. To that end I'd like to post a video I saw today of Jon Stewart interviewing the people that were in the move The Game Changers. This is the best movie since Forks Over Knives and has made quite a splash.

Starting Up Again? And Introducing Earl

My sweet husband said he missed my blog and the way it chronicled our life together. Our lives are pretty quiet and not much different than when I last blogged over four years ago. Nevertheless, I may return from time to time and post. Since my last post all our kitties have gone over the rainbow bridge and we have two new grandchildren. The circle of life and subjects for future posts.

First, let me introduce you to Earl. We inherited Earl from our daughter. He has feline leukemia as a result of a bite from a stray cat in her neighborhood and it is safer for him here at our house since there are no little boys to leave doors open for escape. Earl joined us in July and hasn't gotten out once; we intend to keep it that way.

Earl is one of the best kitties we've ever had. He loves to be with us and follows us from room to room. He can be in a deep, deep sleep with us in the library but if we move to the kitchen he follows. We love it.

I posted about Earl on my Yammer page at work, a page titled "Pets Are People Too." I have gotten over 600 views and nearly 30 comments. I will add photos at the end but here is the text of what I posted:

"Meet Earl, a crazy thug from the streets of Georgia. You know what they say about cats wanting to sit in boxes, “If I fits, I sits.” Well Earl chose to sit in my lunch box this morning.

Earl’s back story is that he was found by the side of the road as a kitten nearly dead, with eyes swollen shut from infection and dehydrated. A kind vet (my daughter’s partner at Toccoa Veterinary Hospital) decided to bring him in and treat him to see if he would survive – he did! He became the “office kitty” though nearly blind from the damage/scarring to his eyes. Somehow, he was able to see enough to navigate through the office and became a “cat-food-terrorist”! They wondered who was chewing holes in all the bags and caught him at it one day. He had to go. My daughter and her husband took him home to live with two other kitties and two little boys, but he was now a “scooting-out-the-door-terrorist.” When they tried to prevent him exiting through the doors, he pushed out the window screens. Sadly, after a bite from another cat he became infected with feline leukemia which suppresses the immune system and can predispose cats to deadly infections, so he is now at my house to be safely and securely kept indoors.

We aren’t sure how long Earl (now 8) will stay well but we’re giving him all the love, kisses, and healthy care possible. He hasn’t gotten outside and seems to realize his outdoor escapades are over. Instead he follows us around from room to room, sleeps with me at night, sits on the toilet lid waiting for me to come out of the shower, chases noisy toys around the kitchen, asks for treats, watches the birds outside the window (not sure if he just sees movement?), and sits in lunch boxes. My husband and I are the lucky ones though. We’re being loved by the softest, sweetest, silliest kitty who gives us lots of kisses in return."

If I fits, I sits.

Too much catnip? Let's say that.


Don't let him fool you. He's fully capable of waking up and following you anywhere.


No. He never slides off.


I no longer shower by myself.


One of my favorite things: tufts of fur between his toes. Hobbit feet.


Earl's the only one who looks good with ear hair.


Not ashamed of playing in a WalMart box.


Scooting on his back along the kitchen cabinet.


My editor takes a lot of naps.
 

Damned sunny spot keeps moving.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my sweet Earl joon.