I was planning to share that today's Daily Triumph was choosing to have a bowl of fruit instead of a brownie and ice cream for dessert, but after I finished the bowl of fruit I promptly rinsed out the bowl and filled it with the brownie and ice cream I had wanted in the first place. So nevermind. Then I thought maybe I should share a triumph from clinicals, but although I feel that my clinical is going really well so far, I don't think I've done anything really noteworthy yet. I worried that maybe I'd be stuck for today, but then my brother-in-law Rich came to the rescue!
I called up Em and Rich to wish them a Happy 2-Year Anniversary tonight (congratulations!) and Rich shared something with me that made my day - Rich told me that he had his own Daily Triumph the other day! Rich was suffering the aggravation of a troublesome fly who would not leave him alone. After three hours of this torment, Rich finally got the sucker! In the glow of his victory, he thought to himself, "this is my Daily Triumph." Knowing that this thought actually went through Rich's head put a huge grin on my face and ended up being my own Daily Triumph today. Thanks, Rich! And Happy Anniversary to you both :-)
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The Sneaky Triumph of a Well-Timed Lesson
June 24, 2011
Every so often the universe conspires to teach you a lesson just when you need it. I had this experience at a slightly unusual yoga class I attended the other day. After a brief beginning stretch, the teacher instructed us all to gather round for the yoga lesson of the day. The seven or so students all sat around just like grade-schoolers, ready to absorb the lesson - it was odd, but no harm in learning something new, right? The lesson was about the concept of asteya, resisting the desire for that which is not yours. While this is not a new idea to me (Ten Commandments?), it is not something I had thought much about previously. However, I am preparing to start my clinicals on Monday and I think that asteya is going to be important to me.
I think the thing I'm most at risk of coveting (besides of course an adorable house that I can decorate all my own) is ability. I need to remember that I am a student, here to learn. I will not be able to do all of the things that those around me can do, and I won't know all of the things they know. I fear that I may find myself desiring something that is not mine - the skill and ability of therapists with years of experience. I can get pretty angry when I embarrass myself by not knowing something that I ought to know or can't do something that I ought to be able to do. The trouble there is that dwelling on things like that can stunt what could be a moment for growth. I must find a way to have high expectations of myself and strive to do my best, while also being gentle with myself when I make mistakes, which will inevitably happen, and open myself up to the lessons that lie therein.
The yoga instructor clarified that asteya is easier to achieve when you focus on what you have and give thanks for your own abilities, and more difficult to achieve when you compare yourself to others. Something tells me that this unexpected reminder not to compare myself to others - a weakness, I must admit - may have been particularly well-timed for the beginning of my fieldwork. Sneaky triumph for the universe :-)
Every so often the universe conspires to teach you a lesson just when you need it. I had this experience at a slightly unusual yoga class I attended the other day. After a brief beginning stretch, the teacher instructed us all to gather round for the yoga lesson of the day. The seven or so students all sat around just like grade-schoolers, ready to absorb the lesson - it was odd, but no harm in learning something new, right? The lesson was about the concept of asteya, resisting the desire for that which is not yours. While this is not a new idea to me (Ten Commandments?), it is not something I had thought much about previously. However, I am preparing to start my clinicals on Monday and I think that asteya is going to be important to me.
I think the thing I'm most at risk of coveting (besides of course an adorable house that I can decorate all my own) is ability. I need to remember that I am a student, here to learn. I will not be able to do all of the things that those around me can do, and I won't know all of the things they know. I fear that I may find myself desiring something that is not mine - the skill and ability of therapists with years of experience. I can get pretty angry when I embarrass myself by not knowing something that I ought to know or can't do something that I ought to be able to do. The trouble there is that dwelling on things like that can stunt what could be a moment for growth. I must find a way to have high expectations of myself and strive to do my best, while also being gentle with myself when I make mistakes, which will inevitably happen, and open myself up to the lessons that lie therein.
The yoga instructor clarified that asteya is easier to achieve when you focus on what you have and give thanks for your own abilities, and more difficult to achieve when you compare yourself to others. Something tells me that this unexpected reminder not to compare myself to others - a weakness, I must admit - may have been particularly well-timed for the beginning of my fieldwork. Sneaky triumph for the universe :-)
Telecommunications Triumph
June 24, 2011
Background: The other day I was stuck at the mall for about a hundred hours waiting for the folks at Sears to fix my car. To while away the time, I picked up The Girls from Ames (Jeffrey Zaslow) from the sale rack at Borders, and I've since been thinking a lot about the friendships that have beautified my life. The book is about a group of 11 girls who became friends throughout their youth and have remained close into their 40's. I am about halfway into the book and, as far as I can tell, there is little that is truly remarkable or unique about their story. However, as I read, I can't help but reflect on the memories and idiosyncracies of my own friendships, and damned if I don't feel that they are each remarkable in their own way. This leads me to conclude that friendship is remarkable enough it and of itself, no matter how ordinary the history or the circumstances of any given friendship.
So, thinking about my friends scattered across the globe naturally led me to marvel at the rapidly changing way in which we all stay connected to one another. As cliche as this is, I am deeply grateful to be living in an age where talking to friends halfway across the country (or world), and even seeing them!, is free and easy. This leads me to today's triumph:
If it's a little hard to discern what's happening here, I'll explain: This is a zoomed-in screen shot of a (complicated) video chat that I recently enjoyed with Kate and Kathryn, two of my best friends. I (in Louisville) am video-chatting with Kate in Seattle, who is Facetiming with Kathryn in Camden and holding up her iPhone so that I can also video chat with Kathryn in Camden, through Kate in Seattle! Incredible!
Background: The other day I was stuck at the mall for about a hundred hours waiting for the folks at Sears to fix my car. To while away the time, I picked up The Girls from Ames (Jeffrey Zaslow) from the sale rack at Borders, and I've since been thinking a lot about the friendships that have beautified my life. The book is about a group of 11 girls who became friends throughout their youth and have remained close into their 40's. I am about halfway into the book and, as far as I can tell, there is little that is truly remarkable or unique about their story. However, as I read, I can't help but reflect on the memories and idiosyncracies of my own friendships, and damned if I don't feel that they are each remarkable in their own way. This leads me to conclude that friendship is remarkable enough it and of itself, no matter how ordinary the history or the circumstances of any given friendship.
So, thinking about my friends scattered across the globe naturally led me to marvel at the rapidly changing way in which we all stay connected to one another. As cliche as this is, I am deeply grateful to be living in an age where talking to friends halfway across the country (or world), and even seeing them!, is free and easy. This leads me to today's triumph:
If it's a little hard to discern what's happening here, I'll explain: This is a zoomed-in screen shot of a (complicated) video chat that I recently enjoyed with Kate and Kathryn, two of my best friends. I (in Louisville) am video-chatting with Kate in Seattle, who is Facetiming with Kathryn in Camden and holding up her iPhone so that I can also video chat with Kathryn in Camden, through Kate in Seattle! Incredible!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Healthy Habits Triumph
Today, I remembered to apply sunscreen before going outside for a walk! Take that, UV rays!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Matrilineal Triumph
June 23, 2011
Today's triumph is something that I had nothing to do with, and yet means the world to me: being Laurie Thede's daughter. My mother is the wisest woman I know and today is her birthday. It is appropriate that I finished reading The Red Tent (Anita Diamant) today, a book about the wisdom of women and the incredible power of a mother's love. At the beginning of her tale, the narrator Dinah says:
Today's triumph is something that I had nothing to do with, and yet means the world to me: being Laurie Thede's daughter. My mother is the wisest woman I know and today is her birthday. It is appropriate that I finished reading The Red Tent (Anita Diamant) today, a book about the wisdom of women and the incredible power of a mother's love. At the beginning of her tale, the narrator Dinah says:
"If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully."
The idea that you must first understand my mother to understand me resonates strongly with me. For as long as I can remember, I have understood, accepted, and embraced the fact that I am very similar to my mother. Women joke about "turning into their mothers," but for me this has never applied, as I have been just like my mother from the beginning. True, I have inherited Mom's loose joints, easily bruising skin, headaches, and sometimes opinionated nature. But these traits are a price I'm happy to pay for the gifts she has given me: love of nature and music, enthusiasm for learning, the desire to be constantly improving myself and my surroundings, respect for my history and heritage, an appreciation for beauty, an eye for bargains, and the enjoyment of hearing other people's stories.
Dinah speaks often of her role as the heir of her mothers' memories and honors her place in the line of women that came before her. I am blessed to be one of the heirs of my mother's wisdom and the wisdom she inherited from the mothers before her. Happy birthday, Mom.
Me at graduation with the two great teachers of my life, Mom and Dad.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Legume Triumph
Although I am not a vegetarian, more often than not I do cook like one. The latest example is today's culinary experiment, vegetarian meatloaf! Meatless meatloaf? What? Stay with me.
This meatloaf uses mashed up lentils in place of ground beef, and everything else is just the same as regular meatloaf. It turned out to be delicious! Tasted pretty much like meatloaf, honest! I gave it an 8 out of 10, which in my eyes is definitely a triumph. The recipe is at the bottom if you're intrigued enough to try this yourself ;-)
In case you didn't know, lentils are super healthy - full of protein, fiber, and iron. In fact, Health magazine has named lentils one of the world's top five healthiest foods. Plus, the oats, egg, and garlic add extra nutrition to this dish. Interestingly, while learning about lentils on the internet I found out that the Old Testament has a story about Jacob purchasing the birthright from Esau with lentils. I happen to be reading The Red Tent right now, which is about Dinah, Jacob's daughter, and includes stories about Jacob and Esau! I wonder if reading about that region is what gave me the notion that I needed to make something with lentils. I do get pretty engrossed in whatever I'm reading/watching at any given time.
Recipe:
This meatloaf uses mashed up lentils in place of ground beef, and everything else is just the same as regular meatloaf. It turned out to be delicious! Tasted pretty much like meatloaf, honest! I gave it an 8 out of 10, which in my eyes is definitely a triumph. The recipe is at the bottom if you're intrigued enough to try this yourself ;-)
In case you didn't know, lentils are super healthy - full of protein, fiber, and iron. In fact, Health magazine has named lentils one of the world's top five healthiest foods. Plus, the oats, egg, and garlic add extra nutrition to this dish. Interestingly, while learning about lentils on the internet I found out that the Old Testament has a story about Jacob purchasing the birthright from Esau with lentils. I happen to be reading The Red Tent right now, which is about Dinah, Jacob's daughter, and includes stories about Jacob and Esau! I wonder if reading about that region is what gave me the notion that I needed to make something with lentils. I do get pretty engrossed in whatever I'm reading/watching at any given time.
Recipe:
1. Cook 1 cup of lentils in 2 cups of water. Let it cook for at least 30 minutes, more like 40-45, so that the lentils are quite soft.
2. Drain (although there won't be much water left), allow to cool slightly, then mash up the lentils in a mixing bowl. They don't have to be completely mashed, just give 'em a good smashing.
3. Add one cup of quick-dry oats, 3/4 cup shredded cheese of your choosing (cheddar, swiss, jack, American), and 1 small diced onion. I also added some minced fresh garlic at this point - up to you.
4. Add in one egg, 4.5 ounces of tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce (I used spaghetti sauce but later wished I had used plain tomato sauce), and whatever spices/herbs you want. I used garlic powder, salt and pepper, parsley, and a little cayenne pepper. I also added a bit of olive oil thanks to a recommendation from one of the recipe's reviewers who said it was a little dry.
5. Mix well and spoon into a loaf pan or a casserole dish. Smooth out the top. Cook at 350 for about 30 minutes.
6. When the top is starting to look like it's getting dry and cooked, take it out of the oven and top it with a glaze of ketchup, a little Worcestershire sauce, and a little brown sugar. Yum!
7. Let cook a little while longer and then enjoy!
Also, here is the recipe I used if you'd like to check it out yourself. I used some of the reader comments - I ALWAYS read those because they are often VERY helpful - so check those out too. Happy lentil-ing!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Food Triumph Number One: Cutting a Mango
Sunday, June 19, 2011
I expect to have several posts about new recipes or foods that I have discovered, because I get very excited, and feel very proud, any time I try a new recipe or food that turns out to be delicious. My first food-related triumph on this blog is cutting a mango!
Previously, all of my attempts to cut a mango resulted in an incredible mess that was more like juicing the mango and slurping it off my fingers, rather than cutting it up to actually eat. I didn't grow up eating mangoes so I never knew that there was a better way. Then, this morning, it occurred to me to consult the all-knowing Youtube.
Here's what I found:
How to Cut a Mango
I tried it today and it works so well! Unfortunately, the mango itself was not such a triumph. I had let it get too ripe and it tasted like rotten fruit with Pine-Sol poured over it. Nonetheless, I consider this a triumph not only for my future enjoyment of mangoes, but also a triumph for Youtube instructional videos, from which I look forward to learning many new skills!
I expect to have several posts about new recipes or foods that I have discovered, because I get very excited, and feel very proud, any time I try a new recipe or food that turns out to be delicious. My first food-related triumph on this blog is cutting a mango!
Previously, all of my attempts to cut a mango resulted in an incredible mess that was more like juicing the mango and slurping it off my fingers, rather than cutting it up to actually eat. I didn't grow up eating mangoes so I never knew that there was a better way. Then, this morning, it occurred to me to consult the all-knowing Youtube.
Here's what I found:
How to Cut a Mango
I tried it today and it works so well! Unfortunately, the mango itself was not such a triumph. I had let it get too ripe and it tasted like rotten fruit with Pine-Sol poured over it. Nonetheless, I consider this a triumph not only for my future enjoyment of mangoes, but also a triumph for Youtube instructional videos, from which I look forward to learning many new skills!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)