...Be Happy!

Just a casual head's up... I also have a Tumblr. You know, for those of you who like pictures as much as I do.

A Year in the Life....

A year ago, dear friends, I left the Holy Land.... seeking parts unknown in places I navigate with my eyes closed. And so began a year of transition. In many ways I feel like I had unrealistic expectations [6 months. Definitely only 6 months and then I'm good to go!] - but I've been learning how to be more gentle and understanding with myself.

 East.

West.

Some funny and some true stories (anecdotes? tales?) from my year of transition:

It may be helpful to know that, while I moved nearly every year as a kid, I did most of my "growing up" in Orange County... and yet people still ask me where I'm from. I know that the Baha'i World Centre has its own accent going on [the result of the in-gathering of hundreds of people from hundreds of countries communicating and making themselves understood in a single language]. It's somewhat a mash-up of the Commonwealth accents, with incredibly heavy American overtones - and all sentences end up sounding like a question, as though you're making doubly sure that everyone understands you. So yeah. We sound (to my ears) Canadian. Many people have confused me for a well-educated mainland European ex-pat who either went to an American school or watched a grip of American TV.

When I slide into my BWC accent (never apurpose, I assure you) lately, however - local folks ask me if I'm French. French. Well, merci beaucoup to you and you and you! [But it's still weird. Trust.]

I really (really) love the service opportunities I have here. You should know that I miss Haifa, like, e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y - but! I had a really interesting dream yesterday (the actual and factual one year anniversary of my last day in Israel). I dreamed that I was back in Haifa, and I really felt like a fish in water - so natural to be there, and 2 weeks into my visit... I was offered a chance to stay. Permanently. And my first thought to the people I serve with here. To the children and youth I mentor (but who really mentor me), to the friends who help me - everyday - to be the best person I can possibly be... and without hesitation, I felt that I should decline the offer. An offer that at alternating points in the last year I'd have jumped at. I'm not saying that missing the Holy Land is easy... but I realize that (particularly as a result of prayer and service) it is closer to me than my life's vein. Confirmations abound.

This has been a year of learning for me. Learning how to be a gentler person, learning how to detach from those things you thought would make you whole... would make me better, learning how to learn. Road rage is an irksome beast... but there's always the hope that my next community will have public transportation and be pedestrian friendly! Until then, if you happen to be in south Orange County, don't cut off the girl in the '90 Ford Bronco. The Bruiser doesn't slow as quickly as some would like!

Time Lapse Magic...

This video, A Day in California, by Ryan and Sheri Killackey is truly excellent - but I'm always blown away by time lapse videos (magic?). I wonder how many still photos went in to the making of this little masterpiece?

Head's up courtesy Honestly...WTF - and in this case, I think it meets the holy goodness (!!!) category perfectly.

Also? Happy 2012!

On Realistic Expectations...

In this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning — and the most important gift we can give others.

This is probably the most important thing I have seen all year. As someone who works with young people and is consistently humbled and amazed by the potential and manifest capabilities of youth - and who is also trying to find a position in this world with significant meaning and worth - this short speech really speaks to my heart. I hope that you will also love it.

I hope, too, that you will be inspired to help someone find a place in this world that has meaning for them. To help instill or even restore a persons dignity.

Courtesy Tralalere - original source TED.com

On Precedent...

Via Bitte Ein Kuss

Thanks to Cost Plus World Market's commitment to importing delicious "foreign" food stuffs, I never have to drink terrible coffee again.

I don't know if it's because the coffee I'm currently enjoying is Italian, or what... but y'all? This coffee is so smooth it has game.

Media, Darlings...

Miss Representation 8 min. Trailer 8/23/11 from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

This topic is so incredibly important. I can't wait for the actual movie to come out!

Peace.

Via Le Love.

"Ten years ago today, the world did not change. We just got a glimpse of the appalling state we've been in for quite a while now and a heads-up of how much worse it'll get [unless and] until we accept and embrace the essential organic unity of mankind and overcome the barriers of prejudice... from both sides."

This tiny and poignant slice of awesome is courtesy of my good friend John.

Don't allow the sacrifice of so many to become a tool of hate and greed and disunity. Remember that love and peace are not only possible, they're essential.

Thinking Outloud...

Now that it's 2011, I kind of expect somethings. Like cars that get at least 50 miles per gallon. I don't feel that this represents the impossible dream. Humans are totally capable of designing something along these lines. And not just a one-off.

Oil resources are becoming increasingly scarce, and owing to some serious turmoil in the countries most famous for oil production... these resources are also becoming unreliable.

Now that I'm back in Southern California - where, by the way, the public transportation is nearly non-existant and entirely non-effective, and the addage about walking is true - doing things like spending hundreds of dollars a week on gas is just crazy talk to me.

I mean, cars have been with us for over 100 years, why are we stuck in the 70s? ...by which I mean technology has come a long way, baby.

Gimme A Beat...!

This is probably my new favorite Beyonce video... so amazing! And I love (l.o.v.e!) that it was inspired by Mrs. Obama's campaign against childhood obesity. You can read the full article here in the NYT. ...head's up courtesy Mrs. O.

In other news... some friends and I went to Turkey this weekend; to a tiny little sleepy beach front village called Kemer in the state (province?) of Antalya. I'm afraid that what happened in Turkey will largely have to stay in Turkey... because I didn't take any pictures save one. I know... typical!

The girls and I did go dancing one night though - for, like, all of 10 minutes. Sigh. I think, nay - I know! - that had the DJ been playing music like this I could have danced all night a la Eliza Doolittle. Alas.

Anyhow... sorry I was off the face - for those of you who check in upon occasion. Oh! Hey Mom!

Life's Little Questions...

Found on Bitte Ein Kuss.

Glad to know that I'm not the only one thinking out loud....

Nineteen Months... On Human Rights

Image courtesy Nineteen Months.

So some friends of mine humbled me beyond belief, recently. They asked if I would consider contributing to the Nineteen Months project.

Wait... what?! But I'm not a photographer! [No, dude. Seriously....]

You guys, they asked me to contribute as a writer. Aimee Piper - the 'thinking out loud champion of the world' (however self proclaimed!) and some actually talented writers who likely don't think the in the third person will be addressing a myriad topics throughout the rest of the Baha'i year.

Check it out.

Shout It From the Rooftops...

“I gave a talk last week on International Women’s Day, saying that if you think feminism is done then you are looking at the micro-environment you are in. If you go anywhere in the world like the Democratic Republic of Congo, rape is being used as a principal weapon of war then you would shout from the rooftops that you were a feminist. Of all the assets in the world that can be owned, such as buildings, housings only one percent is owned by women although women do 75 percent of the world’s labour — these are not my statistics, these are the UN’s.”
- Sandi Toksvig

Head's up courtesy Bitte Ein Kuss

A Buck Ten...

Yesterday - for those of you not addicted to the weather channel - was the hottest day in the history of Southern California. Okay... so it was the hottest day on record in downtown L.A. An entire 113 degrees!

For those of you not in the Fahrenheit world that is 45 degrees! It was even 108 in San Clemente - and 110 in sunny Mission Viejo.

And I thought that I'd have to spend my whole vacation in a cardigan....

Saba Y Yo.

Naturally Saba and I found ourselves at the buck of star for a mid-evening cuppa reunion... because this is the OC and there's so much going on. Okay - that was out loud. I shouldn't get mad at suburban/lights out by 9 lifestyle - I'm technically its product.

But I'm almost finished packing for my flight home to Israel tomorrow - and I'm actually really happy to be going back. This doesn't mean I won't miss my people - but it's going to be really nice to get back in the swing of things, so to speak.

Go Green... Not Brown?

Mural artists Pamela J. Smith and R.E. Wall

If you're going to read this article about racism and fear of diversity, you'll probably want to sit down.

I am saddened and still more than a little shocked by this - but then I'm generally wont to expect the best in people. The fact that this controversy surrounds a school is, to my mind, the worst part of this whole story. I was going to be sarcastic and maybe even a little caustic just now - but it's counterproductive, I realize.

Just this, then - do better. Yeah. That's all I have. I've written things down only to erase them at least 472 times now....

June Gloom...

Artist: Christopher David Ryan

June gloom is a Southern California term for a weather pattern that results in overcast skies with cool temperatures during the late spring and early summer in the mornings and afternoons. For example, June is the cloudiest month of the year in San Diego. [information courtesy wikipedia.]

June gloom is also what happens when your friends leave on jet planes. For permanently. Like Will. ...sigh.

On Goings...

Scones via Simmer Till Done.

So I made 3 batches of scones this morning. The first I made were my trademark cranberry/almond scones for a devotional gathering (people coming together to pray and worship God) I hosted with a friend of mine, Jason. Jason and some other friends and I recently studied the first book in the Ruhi series of courses titled Reflections On the Life of the Spirit. Each book in the Ruhi series has a service component that can also be viewed as 'practical applications'. ...you guessed it! Hosting a devotional gathering is the service for the first book. We had such a nice time this morning that we've decided to make it a regular thing.

I decided to make 2 more batches of scones for my water polo game tonight. I made another batch of the cranberry/almond - and a batch of blueberry with a simple blueberry glaze. The blueberry are quickly emerging as a crowd favorite! They're also really pretty because I use thawed frozen blueberries and the whole scone becomes a sort of periwinkle color.

Our game is in the greater Tel Aviv area tonight - in Petah Tiqva. Wish us luck, friends!

Also... I'm blonde again. Not as light as before - we're transitioning, so to speak. But (sigh) the really really pale gray is getting out of hand and the blonde hides it better than the brown. So much as I love being a brunette (and I really do...) it'll have to wait until I'm a baller.

...in related news? I've been a blonde exactly 24 hours (again) and I'm already not getting jokes (...again). Sigh.

p.s. Meaning no disrespect to the person who baked the scones pictured (found via a random perusal of the world wide interwebs), mine look way (and I mean waaaaaaaay) better. I'm just not that proficient at taking pictures of the things I cook.

Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

The Tyger - William Blake

Do... Check Out This Blogsite

Everyone's favorite Renaissance woman has a new addition to her ridiculously rad resume.... She's got a blog, or a newsletter, or interweb domain space where she shares things that she's been thinking about, places she's visited, foods she's tried and enjoyed, and etc. It's called GOOP. I subscribe & get updates courtesy gmaildotcom - but you can also check out her site directly.

Anyhow, so there was an especially cool article awaiting me today. It's under the 'Make' category and it highlights the Meat Free Monday initiative sponsored largely by Stella, Paul and Mary McCartney. I encourage you to read the full article on Goop and to check out the MFM site (both linked for your convenience).

By sacrificing meat one day per week, you can make a direct impact on the environment - everything from emissions to reforestation to water conservation. While I'm not a vegetarian, I don't eat a lot of meat, so I realize that this initiative - coming from me - may seem cliche or not really sacrificial... but what if we all tried it for 1 month. There are 4 Mondays between now and March 1st (inclusive). I'll try it. And keep you posted - I'll even include recipes. If you'd like a head start on the recipe front, though, Ms. Gwyneth and the McCartneys have thoughtfully included some in their respective sites.

p.s. This is a direct manifestation of my move towards being a grown up woman. Recognizing that a problem exists in my world, educating myself about it, making a decision, and acting. ...it's how I roll.

*Stay tuned for reflection and re-action.

Enquiring Minds Want to Know...

Image courtesy ffffound

So I've been reading (rather voraciously) different news sources to try and find as much information about the trial of the 7 Bahá’ís in Iran.... I'm happy to say that most major news sources are reporting on on this issue. While quickly scanning through BBC (online version) today with my morning coffee, I found a really lovely article in support of the Bahá’ís - and I also found a somewhat perplexing article titled 'There Is No Such Thing as Safe Cocaine'.

Let me explain.

I am a child of the 80s, and as such spent most of my formative years in the grip of Nancy Reagan's anti-drug campaigns. So for me to read an article - presented as though it were breaking news - “if you take cocaine – you could (wait for it… wait for it…) die”.

I don't know... maybe I just didn't understand the article. Or the research. Or the fact that this is meant to clear up some major misunderstandings in the European party circuit.

...because no one ever says "I want to be a junkie"

Globalization...

Bahá'u'lláh said that "the earth is but one country and mankind its citizens". The verity of this becomes more obvious every day - just think of the number of people you communicate with, or share interests and beliefs with. It's truly mind blowing.
So I know that it's cliche - but let's try this experiment (particularly during the warm & fuzzy 'holiday' season): think globally and act locally.
If the whole world is one giant community: friends, family, colleagues, etc. why don't we try to really make an effort to know our neighbors? I'm sure many of you already do - 3 cheers for that - but let's take it to a new level. Let's raise our consciousness - talk about the world, how to make it more positive, more spiritual, how to create a relationship with God.

Go on. Try. Try it together. It's good for you.
Image credit.