The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention

Breakfast time!

 
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention

- Oscar Wilde 


This quote landed in my inbox this morning.  While recouping from surgery I tend to peruse emails and news feeds in bed while I'm having breakfast.   I know, breakfast in bed sounds like such a luxury, and it most definitely IS.  However some of the cache of this treat is diminished when it's pain that's keeping you in bed             
                 
The past three weeks I've been the recipient of endless acts of kindess big and small.  Thanks to my mother, my house has never been cleaner and laundry more neatly folded.

My hubby has assumed so many of the other tasks and has done so in his calm and patient fashion.  This has included bringing my breakfast (along with the daily meds) every morning. 

A small act of kindness...perhaps....but it seems pretty grand to me!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Making the best of it and picking up lessons along the way

Took this in San Diego in 2010...sidewalk inspirational art

There sure is a lot of time to think when you're at home recovering.  People have asked if I've been watching a lot of T.V., but in fact I've watched very little.  I don't want to become too attached to Honey Boo Boo or something I can't sustain once I return to "normal" activities. 

I have however decided that by the time this recovery period comes to an end, I'm going to be very organized, at least with those things that I can do seated - like going through my countless computer documents, saved emails and web bookmarks.  Thank heavens for the iPad so that I can do much of this on the couch and don't even have to venture to my office chair.   I sure save a lot of information, useless and otherwise.  I came across this in my computer.  No idea where it came from or who to attribute it to, so my apologizes to the author.  But it speaks volumes....many lessons to ponder, especially my current lesson,  "practice the art of doing nothing."


Life is sacred.
Live on purpose
be intoxicated with this world and
astonished with the world you imagine
growth is a journey...
success doesn't require arrival
want what you already hold
give no place to public opinion
delight in your friends
practice the art of doing nothing
embrace moments of grace
give the child in you a wide sky
understand
that laughter
is prayer


There is not point in waiting until we are perfect in what we do in life before opening ourselves to what we are capable of doing now.

The four words you DON'T want to start your week off with

Sporting a little bit of bling on my way to the hospital

"You have an extremely large mass and it has to be removed immediately."

Four words leapt as my doctor was giving me the results of my CATSCAN on what had started out to be a typical Monday. I had been experiencing persistent and intense pain in my abdomen and back for about ten days when I finally dragged myself to the doctor, having waiting for the most convenient time to fit it into my busy schedule.

I was trying to practice what I preach and listen to my body, yet still intent on sandwiching it between classes, meetings, radio show and the things that always feel like the take precedence in our lives.

Another day of appointments and tests confirmed that the mass was suspicious, surgery was a must, and that time was of the essence. One doctor even mistook it for my uterus (sorry pal, Elvis has left the building, that no longer resides here anymore!)

On the eve before surgery was scheduled to take place, I realized I had a choice to make. I could either go down the dark hole of 'what if's', lamenting why me, and feeling sorry for myself. No doubt this would result in a lot of tossing and turning throughout the night. Or I could celebrate the moment and hope for the best, drawing on everything I know to stay positive and hopeful.

I cracked open a bottle of wine, cranked my favorite inspirational and upbeat tunes (think Kelly Clarkson "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger"), and danced. And danced. And danced.

I think my husband was slightly baffled by my enthusiastic dance party, but even acquiesced threw in his standard dance move a few times.

Then while taking a dance break and perusing FaceBook, I saw a post mentioning how awesome the moon looked that evening. I immediately danced out to the driveway to take a look, but it's position, coupled with our trees made it impossible to see.

Rich suggested we take a ride to find it. So clad in pj's we hopped in the car and went moon chasing.  When we found a good viewing spot, we parked and simply took it in in silence.

When life hands you lemons, put on some music and dance...or perhaps chase the moon. It makes for much better memories no matter what lies ahead.

Just ask.

Sometimes all you have to do is ask.

This lesson was reinforced to me again last week. I was busy researching, confirming, and booking guests for my radio show and was working on a particular topic I thought could be valuable for people - preparing for and recovering from surgery. It was a very important topic for me this year, and I thought others might benefit from some sound information on the subject.

A potential guest popped into my head, Peggy Huddleston, a renowned expert in the field . I knew about her work, had read her book, and had listened to her meditation CDs to prepare for my own surgery. Then the negative tapes began playing in my head... nah, I'm sure she's too busy to consider my show...who am I kidding, what do I think I'm Katie Couric now?

Since I'm trying to work on the energy I'm putting out into the universe, I stopped those negative tapes, and on a whim decided to google her, found a general informational email for her office and fired off an email.

Within five minutes my cell phone rang. Lo and behold it was Ms. Huddleston herself. We had a wonderful chat. I told her how much her work had helped me. She was more than happy to participate in the show, and then preceded to suggest other experts that she could get to call in as well.

What the heck? Even better than I expected!

Change the tape and then just ask.