On Humor

True humor is fun. It does not put down, kid or mock. It makes people feel wonderful, not separate, different and cut off. True humor has beneath it the understanding that we are all in this together.

-Hugh Prather

Friendship

Support your friends even in their mistakes. But be clear, however, that it is the friend and not the mistake you are supporting.

-Hugh Prather

uh-oh

“perfectionism is a slow death. if everything were to turn out just like i would want it to, just like i would plan for it to, then i would never experience anything new; my life would be an endless repetition of stale successes. when i make a mistake i experience something unexpected.... when i have listened to my mistakes i have grown.”

― Hugh Prather

Last Child in the Woods

"The quiet wisdom of nature does not try to mislead you like the landscape of the city does, with billboards and ads everywhere. It doesn't make you feel like you have to conform to any image. It's just there, and it accepts everyone." -Erin (Last Child in the woods)

living in the moment

I have to say that when people talk about how living in the moment is the way to live I tend to disagree. Don't get me wrong, I understand what people are getting at...well sort of. I just think it's so important to learn from the past and to plan for the future. The mentality that goes along with living in the moment seems to completely disregard these two important aspects of living thoughtfully. So don't just live in the moment. Live in the past, present and the future. 

On Death

"Just as we take a train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star. We cannot get to a star while we are alive any more than we can take the train when we are dead. So to me it seems possible that cholera, tuberculosis and cancer are the celestial means of locomotion. Just as steamboats, buses and railways are the terrestrial means."

-Vincent van Gogh

"I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,

If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles."

-Whitman

“Look for me in the weather reports.”

-Saul Bellow

deep thoughts

"Before you educate the head, try to educate the heart."

-Washington Phillips

Sri Chinmoy Ghose

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

-Sri Chinmoy Ghose

animal lovers

This month I made the decision to go from being vegetarian to being vegan. It is something that I have thought a lot about for years and ultimately made the change after watching the humbling documentary Earthlings. I have been struggling to find a way to incorporate this new aspect of my life into my blog. The problem is that I don't want to alienate people or become preachy. There are so many different ways that I could come across as judgmental even without intending to. I understand that being vegan is not for everyone, but I do think that being educated about "normal" practices should be. People in highly industrialized and developed societies can no longer make excuses for their own lack of knowledge. The information is right at our fingertips. It is up to you, the individual, to become passionate about your education and no longer justify detachment.

That said, I would like to find a way to focus on the positive aspects of being vegan rather than focusing on all of the appalling reasons why I made this change. I would like to share my recipes, thoughts, difficulties, tips, and lessons learned. I do not wish to judge people for eating meat. In return, I would like people who do eat meat to no longer be dismissive of the fact that animals feel pain just like we do. Acknowledge that they are wildly abused by the millions. This fact infuriates and sickens me. 

That will be it for my vegan ranting. This blog isn't about that. It is about sharing my random thoughts, passions and curiosities. I have been vegan for a very short period of time, and have to say that I already have noticed that I have more energy. I no longer have stomach issues, which have troubled me the majority of my life. I have eaten delicious meals all while becoming more creative and thoughtful in the kitchen. I am looking forward to adapting this new element into my blog. There will be many more food and recipe posts and other vegan randomness in the future.

just a thought

Before you can begin to find a solution to a problem, you must work to understand the problem. If you are not working to either understand or solve the problem, then you are most likely part of the problem.