Waiting is a lesson I am still working on.  I am not a particularly patient person.  As a kid I wanted results last week but as a woman nearing 50 I am wanting results by tomorrow.  I think that is pretty good progress, right?   There is so much I want for myself and the world I live in I get impatient in my wanting.  I have posted before in other questions I have to work at being here and now.  When I feel the panic surge because of worrying something won't happen because it hasn't happened on my timetable I stop, drop, breathe and remember HERE AND NOW I am ok then I can wait a little longer.  Sometimes I have to repeat I am here and now like a mantra so I will stay where I am and not shoot off into mental directions I have no business going.   So I guess I have a big relationship with waiting and like so many other relationships in my life it get contentious now and again.
Have a great week this week and to all of you who voted for Obama I thank you.  To those of you who voted for McCain I thank you too.  The process really worked and we are a better people for it!
:)
Mame

I am excited for next Tuesday.  I am so ready for a new direction in this country where the needs of the many outweigh the profits of the few.  I cannot wait for a new administration to lead the way in reforming our inftrastructure, health system, financial institutions and our image with the rest of the world.
I can't wait to hold my head up and say "Yes, I am an American and I am proud of our place in the world."  I am excited for the future for the first time in 8 years.
I may not agree with your choice but I hope everyone Votes November 4th!
God bless America and Please let Obama be our next President!
:)
Mame 

I don't have to keep myself busy.  My life does this for me. In fact, I often long for moments of doing, thinking and feeling nothing....aahhhh peace!
Have a great week!
:)
Mame

You know what confuses me?  Why one group of believers hate another.  I know the whole power thing is core but why are the Muslims so hateful of the Jews?  Why does China insist on oppressing Tibet and the Buddhists?  Why are Christians so distrustful of any group that doesn't need saving by Jesus?  Different isn't evil, it is just different.  Our differences are what make the canvas of life colorful and beautiful. We all come into this life the same way and leave it through the same end.   So why do we waste the time we are here trying so hard to be hateful and separate from each other?  It fills me with awe and sadness at the grand accomplisments we human beings could achieve if we could just stop being jackasses!
Be good to each other this week!
:)
Mame

Hhmmm....there are a lot of discussions I think we should have more of, like greener lifestyles, shared spiritual experiences, increasing compassion and kindness but I think it is more important how we converse than what we converse about.
Mutual respect and tolerance for others with different opinions and backgrounds should be practiced at all times.  We should employ genuine honesty in our conversations and take responsibility for our opinions and perceptions. 
There is a young man in my office who is almost 30 years my junior.  He is a very conservative christian.  I am as free as a free seeking spirit that one can get.  We are pretty much on the opposite pole of every topic and yet I have had some of the best conversations with him about government, religion and the state of the world as I have had with anyone in a long time.  I believe this is because neither of us have ever said the other one is wrong or shouldn't believe in a certain way.  He has taught me about Friedman economic theories and I have cleared up some questions about Buddha for him.  We have called each other on comments that are less than informed or more judgmental than educated.  We have been learning a lot from each other and we work together better because we respect each others opinion.  We make a good team because we challenge each other with respect and curiousity not accusation or defensiveness.
Bottom line for me is that it isn't so much the topic but the delivery that makes a conversation important.
Have a great week and Be good to each other out there!
:)
Mame
Obama/Biden 08

EEeewwww.....this is a very hard question.  I am afraid of death.  I used to be TERRIFIED of death but I am maturing.  I d like to say I would give up my life in sacrifice for my children/ my parents/my freedom but I am afraid I could be a big fat liar.  I am certain I would give all my money, all my effort, all my physical strength to protect and care for those I love but death?  I'm not so sure.  Does anyone really go into a situation with the intention to sacrifice themselves?  I kind of think most human beings think somehow this is going to be ok and we will all have a good laugh later.  It isn't until that actual moment of choice that one might choose the ultimate sacrifice and then it seems, when the story is later told, the one who sacrificed felt there was no other option.  Maybe it is for the ones left behind to perceive the death as a choice of sacrifice to ease the guilt they feel for being still alive? 
In these scary times of war and economic crisis when people are talking about sacrifice I know I would do whatever I had to do to for my loved ones.  I guess I just hope "whatever" doesn't include death. 
PLEASE everyone be good to each other today and everyday!
Vote for Obama on  Nov. 4th
I am sending you all a hug!
:)
Mame

I just try to stay present
:)
Mame

When I think of a Saint I think of Mother Theresa, St Francis, Buddha and Ghandi. They weren't perfect nor without question or doubt but they kept moving where they believed they were being led.  Even though the way got clouded and temptation to quit teased, they could see their purpose and stay the course.  The prayer of St. Francis really encapsulates the concept of Saintliness:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,

grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood, as to understand;

to be loved, as to love;

for it is in giving that we receive,

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

For me, the best way to celebrate peace is to be peaceful.  I don't mean to sound simplistic but I think being peaceful in the face of ups and downs expands peace around me.  I don't know about you but being peaceful in all situations is a major challenge for me.  When things are going well I want to wallow and shine and say look at me.  When the #@$% hits the fan I want to wallow, explode and say look at me.  I have come to realize that overdoing either reaction only seems to breed more drama and upheaval.  When I act with gratitude and peace then the experience seems to be more real.  For instance:  I just received a nice raise at work.  In the past I would have jumped up and been so effusive in my thanks it would be uncomfortable for my boss.  It also seemed to tell him that I didn't feel like I deserved the raise or that I didn't trust him to give it to me.  This year I didn't go over the top and I also expressed that I felt the cost of living increase didn't reflect my work this year.  With peace, professionalism and some fear I stood up for myself and got my raise doubled.  In the past I would have been so into the emotion I wouldn't have stopped to think I should have earned more.  This year no one felt uncomfortable and I received more money!  Woo hoo!  Being peaceful doesn't mean not feeling.  It simply means my emotions don't dictate my actions.  That is HUGE!   THat is worthy of celebration.
Peace ya'll!
:)
Mame

I am proud to say I have been with my husband John the longest.  We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in March this year.  We have actually been together 30 years.  In October our youngest son will make us empty nesters when he heads to Paris Island for bootcamp.  Woo Hoo! 
Several of our friends ooh and aah over our longevity.  We must really be in love to still be together after all these years and we are but it has taken a lot more than that to keep us together.  It has taken compromise, patience, and sometimes impatience.  John and I are very strong characters.  We have never fully seen eye to eye on anything but we have realized that we care about the same things, we work for the same things and we  have the same values. 
Some of the best advice I can offer anyone living with someone is:  not everything is about you.  Sometimes the crap belongs to the other guy and leave it with them.  You aren't going to always like each other.  These things will pass so don't hang onto resentment.  Pick your battles and be gracious when things don't exactly go your way and be more gracious when they do.  But most of all don't forget to laugh. When you can laugh together you can weather almost any storm. 
Have a great week!
:)
Mame