Ripples

I think I'm a kind person. I'm definitely not Mother Teresa but I'm a big fan of acts of kindness (even if they are very small acts) and friendliness. I give a helping hand when I see someone in need; if the person behind me at the checkout counter in the supermarket has a few items, I'll let him/her take my spot; I'll hold a door or an elevator; I'll start a casual conversation when in a waiting room, etc. I sometimes receive kindness and smiles in return... I also receive strange looks and discomfort.

                          

A few weeks ago, I went to give a deposit to one of our wedding vendors. This vendor's office was only a few steps away from his niece's store where she sells lovely clothes and accessories for women. We walked the few steps to the store where he introduced me to her, thanked me for the deposit then went about his day. After chatting with the shop owner for about 15 minutes, I told her that I would come back another day to shop.

As we were saying our goodbyes, she told me to pick something from the store as a gift from her uncle/the vendor. With a smile on my face and confusion in my eyes, I couldn't help but ask her Why!? She let out a small laugh and started showing me different items. My mind started racing and I started asking myself many different things: Is this a prank? Did the vendor look legitimate? Would he take off with my deposit? What's the catch? Why would she just give me something? Am I being swindled? 

After rationalizing the situation in my head, I realized that I had thought too hard. The answer was clear... I was dealing with nice people who were simply being kind and friendly!

As I left the store with my freebie-goodie (a beautiful Beeswax candle in a floral teacup), I could not pinpoint what I was feeling. On one hand, at the sight their generosity, I had a soothing feeling of comfort and reassurance. On the other hand, somewhat ashamed, I asked myself "isn't it sad?". Isn't it sad that our reaction to generosity is apprehension; we mistake politeness for flirtation and we question kindness' intention?

I bet the vendor I dealt with and his niece thought that all they did was give a little gift. They did much more than that- they created ripples of kindness. Every little thing we do goes out into the world like a ripple and affects another action and another person.

Cast a good stone...

Be kind to your body as well. Here is an extremely healthy, vitamin-packed Gazpacho recipe that is perfect for the hot summer days to come!

Gazpacho
yield: 4 servings
recipe adapted from realsimple.com

Ingredients

• - 2 1/2 pounds tomatoes, roughly chopped

• - 3 small cloves garlic, peeled

• - 1/2 small sweet onion, roughly chopped

• - 2 red bell peppers, roughly chopped

• - 1 pound English cucumbers, peeled and roughly chopped

• - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

• - salt and black pepper

• Garnish

• - 3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

• - 1 cup fresh corn kernels 

• - 4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

• - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• - crusty bread (optional)

Directions

1- Working in batches, place the tomatoes, garlic, onion, bell peppers, and cucumbers in a food processor and pulse until almost pureed.

2- Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the lemon juice, a pinch of salt and dash of pepper.

3- Ladle the soup into individual bowls and top with the goat cheese, corn, and cilantro.

4- Drizzle with the olive oil and serve with the crusty bread (if using).

What Really Matters

Let's do a little activity. Don't be scared. I promise it will only take a few minutes.

I challenge you to take a moment now (yes, right now!) and reflect. For a brief moment, mentally let go of everything you have that can be replaced. Forget about your car, forget about your expensive clothes and purses. Forget about your jewellery, your watch, and your fancy china. Forget about your state of the art television and sound system, your computer, your video games, your iPhone, iPod, iPad. You don't need them. Mentally empty all the contents of your house. Say goodbye to anything that money can buy.

All that is left is the roof above your head. You're in an empty room. Now bring in the people who are most dear to you. People you love and who love you back. People who make you smile. Your spouse, your children, your parents, your siblings, your grandparents, your friends, etc. You may want to bring one person, five people, ten, twenty... Are they all there in the imaginary empty room with you? Great. You now have everything.

As a society, we have become too impersonal, too impatient, too stressed, too busy, too materialistic, too cynical, too fake and too judgemental. Without realizing it, we overthink and overstress on small things that do not really matter. Impatient when there is a traffic jam during your drive? Anxious because your bus is late? Angry because you spilled your drink on your new tablecloth? Did the store run out of that shirt you wanted? SO WHAT?!
 
"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing." - Oscar Wilde

Life works in very strange and unexpected ways sometimes. Situations occur that make you ponder life more deeply. It is a shame that most of us only realize what is really important when it's too late. Suddenly, whether you are prepared or not, everything falls apart before it falls back into place and into new perspective. Ultimately, you learn that the only things that really matter are health and to be with the people you cherish.
 

Be kind, be honest, be courteous, be patient, be selfless and be happy. Remember that happiness is sometimes a positive side effect of the actions you take. So do something nice and make someone smile. The smallest gesture can have the greatest effect and bring the biggest joy.

 

Surround yourself with people who love you and who bring out the best in you. Don't take anything or anyone for granted. We all want to believe that we are untouchable. We're not. 

When life gives you lemons, (before you make lemonade) ask yourself "why is life giving me these lemons?" You may or may not have the answer to that question right away. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and that, whether we see it or not, life is full of lessons. There are some lessons that are easier to learn than others.
We are still asking ourselves why and still trying to learn this life lesson...

Rest in Peace

Alice Hatzakordzian Beuyukian

June 24, 1945 - October 16, 2012

WHAT WILL MATTER

                                by Michael Josephson

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days.

All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear.

So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.

 

It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.

It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant.

Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? 

 

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built,

not what you got but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.

 

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched,

empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence but your character. 

What will matter is not how many people you knew,

but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories but the memories of those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident.

It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.