There’s an analogy in here somewhere. Something about aching for the stillness in the distance, but being distracted by the dizzying blur of the present foreground.
I ache.
I’m distracted.
At least for tonight.
“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”
–Lao Tzu
We have to take risks. We can only truly understand the miracle of life when we let the unexpected manifest itself.
Every day – together with the sun – God gives us a moment in which it is possible to change everything that makes us unhappy. Every day we try to pretend that we don’t realize that moment, that it doesn’t exist, that today is just the same as yesterday and will be the same as tomorrow. But if you pay attention, you can discover the magic instant.
It may be hiding at the moment when we put the key in the door in the morning, in the silence right after dinner, in the thousand and one things that all seem the same to us. This moment exists – a moment when all the strength of the stars passes through us and lets us work miracles.
Happiness is at times a blessing – but usually it’s a conquest. The magic instant helps us to change, drives us forward to seek our dreams. We shall suffer and go through quite a few difficult moments and face many a disappointment – but this is all transitory and inevitable, and eventually we shall feel proud of the marks left behind by the obstacles. In the future we will be able to look back with pride and faith.
Poor are those who are afraid of running risks. Because maybe they are never disappointed, never disillusioned, never suffer like those who have a dream to pursue. But when they look back – for we always look back – they will hear their heart saying: “What did you do with the miracles that God sowed for your days? What did you do with the talent that your Master entrusted to you? You buried it deep in a grave because you were afraid to lose it. So this is your inheritance: the certainty that you have wasted your life.”
Poor are those who hear these words. For then they will believe in miracles, but the magic instants of life will have already passed.
It has been a hard week and a big hit on the happiness factor. I have to remind myself that it will be okay, that these setbacks mean nothing in the grand scheme of my life. The new year is as good an excuse as any to turn a new leaf and regain that happiness to find my footing again.
Happy Chinese New Year.
And Happy Valentine’s Day too.
A certain someone has been looking for an ascii renderer for his face.
Bajam!
I hope your “friend” reads this post and tells you about it.
I have a new mini cupcake tin. I’m also suffering the ill effects of this aggravating winter. (I promise I’ll stop complaining…when Spring gets here.) Therefore, it would be a crime not to bake mini cupcakes ASAP.
The great thing about baking is that once you have the basic ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda/powder, eggs), you’re basically set to bake anything. And lo and behold, K and I had baked just the week before, so I had everything ready.
I’m one of those people who has no patience to wait for things to cool before tasting them. I also tend to forget that a metal object sitting in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes will burn my hand. LESSON LEARNED. Or not.
I’ll just have to bake more of these to find out.
Definitely going to have to bake more of these. Speaking of which, does anyone know how to bake jam-filled cupcakes without the jam sinking to the bottom of the batter? Besides just adding the jam after the cupcakes have been baked, of course.
Yep, this totally calls for more experimentation. Right after I scarf all of these down.
OK, so it’s snowing. Again. I’m trying not to think about it. Instead, I’m going to think about this past nice, relaxing, snow-free weekend.
I haven’t been to the Guggenheim since a field trip in grade school. Sixth grade, if I recall correctly. I remember it being a particularly painful day because I had the attention span of, well, a sixth grader and the tour guide? She would. not. stop. talking. This time going back, I was hoping to be enlightened. But art…I just don’t get it.
Having a Crumbs cupcake afterwards totally made it worth it though.
And then there was the ramen.
Cupcakes and ramen. I think I’ve found a new S.A.D. cure.