It can be overwhelming to try and understand the complexities of human behavior.
Entire schools of thought have been developed to explain why we do what we do. Each of them brings to light new perspectives and considerations; each of them is fascinating and thought-provoking.
Sometimes, however, Maya Angelou’s simple truth is all you need.
”I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Today’s cuppa celebrates our backyard garden.
I can’t take credit for it. Husband and sons did (and do) the work. My allergies keep me from spending too much time out there. But, I appreciate what they’ve done, support their efforts, and clap merrily whenever new flowers, or vegetables, or fruit appear. You could call me the Garden Cheerleader.
We have several varieties of tomatoes, two blackberry bushes, a grapevine, a few potato plants, some dill, jalapeños, garlic, and onions, along with numerous roses and a honeysuckle vine. Most are growing well, especially the tomatoes, although it’s a race to see who will end up eating more of them – us or the bugs. We also have kale, which is one of my least favorites but is growing exceptionally well, mocking my disdain.
One of my grandmothers grew up on a farm in Minnesota. My other grandmother had a Victory Garden during WWII. I like to imagine them joining me as cheerleaders, celebrating nature in our backyard.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve woken up each morning with an earworm – a song stuck in my head, playing on repeat until it’s crowded out by the day’s activities.
Sometimes, the song makes sense because I was listening to it the day before or can tie it back to something else that created the connection. Most often, however, it’s a random selection chosen by the unconscious DJ in my brain.
This morning’s earworm was Yellow Submarine by The Beatles.This morning’s cuppa seemed a logical choice.
And now, you’ve likely got Yellow Submarine playing in your head. Perhaps you’re even humming along with the tune. It’s a happy little song. I’m glad I could share it with you today.
The term “2020” is typically associated with vision; with how well we see.
But “seeing” isn’t just about viewing the image in front of us. Our brains aren’t wired that way. We attach feelings, memories, opinions, and ideas to everything we see. It’s how we understand and make sense of things.
For example, when I look at an apple, I might think of the taste and smell of an apple. The next time I see an apple, I might have slightly different associations. Perhaps I’ll think of a story I just read about picking apples, or I’ll say to myself, “I want to bake a pie today.”
If I see something I don’t recognize, such as a fruit I’ve never eaten before, my brain will attempt to classify it using whatever clues are available. It will try to provide perspective and awareness through color, or texture, or in other ways.
These thoughts happen in an instant and are often unintentional. The same type of thing happens with all our senses. We connect the dots between the thing and what we perceive it to be, based on our experiences, knowledge, feelings.
I can look at something and see it differently each time. It remains only an item, an object, an apple. But, that’s not the only thing I’m seeing. And, this process of seeing is unique to each of us, despite our commonalities and shared experiences.
Just some random thoughts I’m having with today’s cuppa, while I look at the year marked on the calendar.
I’m grateful for white chocolate apricot muffins left over from yesterday.
Mondays are a little easier when they start with a yummy baked treat and a cuppa of happy.
I hope your day has some good moments. Let’s get this week started.
When I was a little girl, my mother would sometimes sing me to sleep.
Her voice was warm, with a soothing edge, and she’d gently rub my back while she sang. As I listened, I imagined a soft darkness flying overhead, tinged with mellow orange and yellow, peacefully cloaking the world. Then she’d kiss me goodnight, and she’d leave the room with the door slightly ajar to provide a sliver of light from the hallway.
I didn’t inherit my mom’s singing abilities, but my boys and I had our own bedtime rituals.
For my oldest, it was glow-in-the-dark stars on his bedroom ceiling and holding hands while we whispered stories to each other, some true, some imaginary.
For my second son, it was rocking chair snuggles with my off-key lullabies, sometimes songs that we knew, sometimes songs that we made up together.
And for my youngest, it was books, and books, and more books – the best ones being those that involved the two of us searching for something or counting something or being part of the narrative in some other way as we cuddled together against the pillows.
Treasured moments, each one. Simple acts of timeless love and peaceful joy.
Happy Mother’s Day.
“Take a deep breath. Get present in the moment and ask yourself what is important this very second.” – Greg McKeown
I woke up this morning to a heavy rainstorm.
Mollie (pictured on today’s cuppa) was snuggled next to me. She raised her head, looked at the window, put her head down, shifted closer to me, and went back to sleep. I laid there a bit longer, listening to the rain.
Not a bad way to start a Friday.
There’s a Llama named Winter who may end up being the hero we need.
Humans have one type of antibody. Llamas have two. One of those is smaller than human antibodies.
Scientists have had success using those smaller antibodies to fight against viruses such as MERS and SARS. They’ve seen similar results in COVID-19 cell cultures, using Winter’s antibodies.
Much more work is needed, but the scientists are moving toward clinical trials. The hope is that, although a permanent cure is unlikely, a vaccine could offer the ability to protect from infection for several months.
Even if Winter does end up being a hero, I doubt that she’ll ever have a building named after her, or be given a medal, or that we’ll celebrate an annual holiday in her honor. But I can certainly dedicate a cuppa to her today.
I’ve been watching the Netflix show Cheer.
It’s occasionally cringeworthy (college students and cheer drama) but overall entertaining. I’ve definitely gained appreciation for the level of effort needed to pull off a three-minute routine.
These kids are strong, not just in their ability to do the stunts, but also in the way they support each other and in their determined approach to delivering a perfect performance. They’re human, which means they’re flawed. But they try anyway, and they keep trying. They push themselves and each other in pursuit of their passion.
Today’s cuppa is a nod to the fact that I originally tuned in for the backflips, but I’ve stayed tuned in for the message.
A Daily Cuppa 