Thomas Merton

 #1 - "Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us and see the beauty in ordinary things. For nothing has ever been said about God, that hasn't already been said better by the wind

 in the pine trees." 

Thomas Merton

#2 - Today I went with my coordinator to meet a new family I will be working with. Usually these meetings are a little uneasy, someone is letting strangers come into their home and explain a program that may or may not work for them. Everyone is a bit on guard.  Today's mom however was so open and talkative and something that usually takes about 20 minutes took 45. I almost cried as she shared her experience.  And was it a coincidence she had a throw pillow that said something like, "Gratitude is what makes what you have enough"?

#3 - She spoke to us in English, but the primary language of the household is Spanish, so when I texted her to confirm our first visit tomorrow I did it in Spanish, and that is how she replied.

#4 - Earlier today I was listening to "A Reminder" by Trevor Hall on repeat.  This evening it was "Watching the Whole Sky Change" Lockeland Strings featuring Maya de Vitry

#5 - "I believe the desire to please you, does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing." 

Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton excerpts from - Thomas Merton - Selected Teachings for Meditations - Christian Mysticism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2zWgTX_9L4&t=1081s 

Nighthawk, Whole Milk

 #1 - You know how maybe you have this one thought or worry that you forget for weeks at a time, but then keeps you up in the middle of the night?  Mine - the one that I think is "real" - is dealing with my aunt's house someday.  (She doesn't have children.)  There are a long list of reasons that I will not go into here why this concerns me, but to say the least it is a decrepit piece of property.

I had the thought quite a while ago to consult the Realtor who helped me find my condo, and who is now a friend, for her thoughts on this, before it is a more imminent issue.  Usually Realtors are busy in the spring, so I just asked her today if I could take her to lunch and pick her brain about this.

We are meeting next week.

#2 - "Nighthawk" that is the word The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig uses to describe the thought like above, which you forget for weeks, but then strikes you late at night.

This book is delightful and full of new words for emotions. For example, "nodus tollens: the feeling that the plot of your life doesn't make sense to you anymore."

#3 - I returned home from being away for the summer late last week. One of my jobs I started immediately, but it is a slow start up. The second I gave myself a 2 week buffer.

I am so glad about that, I've had the time to address things that keep popping up- making a phone call which involved hold for a while about a couple confusing financial things, talking to the property manager about the bathroom fans (which are central) which still aren't working...

 None of the things I've needed to address have been any sort of emergency, they just take time.

#4 - I bought this 4L Seeker water storage thing for camping a couple years ago.  However from the start it gave my water a funny taste.  I tried a couple things suggested online.  Eventually the company sent me a new one along with some other things to try.  One was to fill it with milk for 24 hours in the fridge and then wash it out.  I wrote back, "Whole milk? Skim?  Any preference?  I'll try it."

That was last March.  Today I finally just bought a gallon of whole milk and am giving it a try.

#5 - I did not look in the mirror much this summer. There was a small medicine cabinet sized mirror in my room that I saw my face in every day, but that's it. I've been surprised at how much more I am seeing myself now. I felt more confident in my skin without the mirrors.

I thought about this in a yoga class last week and again today in a barre class. I am overall happy with and grateful for my body

and

I'm not sure all the mirrors are helpful.