In France, the generic toast year-round is "santé !" (health!).
We have all three been through a bout of bad stomach flu, and are now battling bronchitis.
A neighbor and friend of the family had a heart attack on January 2nd during his second session with a personal trainer (Christmas gift from his children). P says he's read that such heart attacks during training sessions are becoming extremely common; couldn't find a reliable news source to confirm though. The man was quickly defibrillated, transported and top-notch cared for. Still, his heart had stopped.
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Second mantra of the new year: Remember when it is not about me.
I am somewhat unaffected by the passing of the new year evening. I have realized that it is not about the pants I wear, the ice I fail to put in my water, or the language I speak to my child; in fact it is not at all about me, but rather about her (mil). thus me = zen.
And when the little one wakes up because she is jet-lagged, ill, teething, going through a major growth developmental spurt, it is also not about me. It's about her. so me = zip it (or try to).
---Have you seen the US News and World Report? I stumbled upon it at the medical office, and could only see contempt for the rest of the world. no understanding, only judging.
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Once upon a time in a lecture room, I realized that our conception of things in 'states' rather than 'processes' is all wrong. We define and describe things as they are at the present, instead of the direction they are taking. Backwards: we lose all the richness of the reality.
For instance, we say "as of today, she walks". 6 months later she'll still be stumbling her way through walking. Slowly she learns to turn in mid-course, to stop and start again, to squat up and down, to get up on her own without the help of a step or a leg or a wall, to run, and so on. There is no "she walks". There is only "she is learning to walk".
And us, we're not parents; we're parenting. We're in the process of growing a little person. And an adorable one at that!
2 comments:
You have already "grown" your little person. Now you are in the business of helping her to take over the growth process.
Your approach to parenting sounds wonderful. Where was someone like you when I was in the middle of those years? My two daughters are now 24 & 21. BTW, we're still helping them, and they help us just as much with our own personal growth.
Your previous entry wasn't too serious at all, as far as I'm concerned. I think more people need to be made aware of the things you have mentioned there.
ZenScribe said...
Stomach flu followed by bronchitis?! Oh your poor family. How are you doing now? Are the antibiotics kicking in? Hopefully, the rest from travel will help you all to heal faster. Santé !
thus me = zen
so me = zip it
What an excellent way of looking at life's pesky issues! Thanks for your inspiration.
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