What does it take to restore hope?
I've been working on this one recently, revising it to make it flow. Here's the most recent version........
Recipe for Hope
Ingredients
Five 2 month-old babies
Six elders sitting and talking
10 laughing kids
2 Pregnant women, almost to term
1 year’s worth of blank pages
Endless emotional support
1 Good Friend
1 small illusion about yourself
Instructions
Take five 2 month-old babies and kiss them, one by one as you hold them and hug them gently and lovingly. Quietly smell each of them for 3 minutes while you perform this sacred act.
Sit in a rocker beside 6 elders who have known each another for 30 years and listen. Pay attention to everything they say. Try to develop your tolerance for gossip, wisdom and elders.
Hang out on the playground for 1 week with 10 laughing kids under the age of 12. Play whatever games they ask you to—double-dutch, tether ball, monkey bars. Never think that you don’t have enough time to spend with them. Never think about time.
Go on a shopping trip with two pregnant women. Help them carry their bags, and choose just the right food for those late night cravings. Be patient with their constant need to go to the bathroom. Imagine what it might be like to loan your body to another person rent-free for 9 months. What would you have to do to reach such a large and selfless goal? Use metaphor when necessary to increase your understanding.
Sit for 15 minutes every day looking at one year’s worth of blank pages. Make this your meditation practice.
Extend the emotional support you want for yourself to a loved one. Choose a friend, relative, pet or neighbor to be the recipient of this gift. Remember that pets usually can’t talk or send thank you cards.
Allow 1 good friend to call you every day to see how you’re feeling and take you to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Accept the peace of mind, safety, restful sleep and dream-filled nights that friendship can bring.
Hold one small illusion about yourself and think about it for 5 minutes a day for 5 days. Then, toss all of your illusions about yourself and get on with living your life.
c Joyce E. Young
Reprint or Copy with Permission Only
Recipe for Hope
Ingredients
Five 2 month-old babies
Six elders sitting and talking
10 laughing kids
2 Pregnant women, almost to term
1 year’s worth of blank pages
Endless emotional support
1 Good Friend
1 small illusion about yourself
Instructions
Take five 2 month-old babies and kiss them, one by one as you hold them and hug them gently and lovingly. Quietly smell each of them for 3 minutes while you perform this sacred act.
Sit in a rocker beside 6 elders who have known each another for 30 years and listen. Pay attention to everything they say. Try to develop your tolerance for gossip, wisdom and elders.
Hang out on the playground for 1 week with 10 laughing kids under the age of 12. Play whatever games they ask you to—double-dutch, tether ball, monkey bars. Never think that you don’t have enough time to spend with them. Never think about time.
Go on a shopping trip with two pregnant women. Help them carry their bags, and choose just the right food for those late night cravings. Be patient with their constant need to go to the bathroom. Imagine what it might be like to loan your body to another person rent-free for 9 months. What would you have to do to reach such a large and selfless goal? Use metaphor when necessary to increase your understanding.
Sit for 15 minutes every day looking at one year’s worth of blank pages. Make this your meditation practice.
Extend the emotional support you want for yourself to a loved one. Choose a friend, relative, pet or neighbor to be the recipient of this gift. Remember that pets usually can’t talk or send thank you cards.
Allow 1 good friend to call you every day to see how you’re feeling and take you to breakfast, lunch or dinner. Accept the peace of mind, safety, restful sleep and dream-filled nights that friendship can bring.
Hold one small illusion about yourself and think about it for 5 minutes a day for 5 days. Then, toss all of your illusions about yourself and get on with living your life.
c Joyce E. Young
Reprint or Copy with Permission Only
posted by Unknown at 10:51 AM
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