It’s not every day that you sit down to lunch and something rocks your world. That happened to me today–when I found myself crying over my lunch in the middle of a crowded hotel ballroom. I could have been crying over a number of things–that my chicken was overcooked, that there were raw onions on my salad, that the Republicans could steal the election, that I was wearing warm weather clothes on a suddenly crisp fall day.
What made me cry was the guest speaker at today’s luncheon, Rachel Naomi Remen M.D., author of Kitchen Table Wisdom–a renowned educator and pioneer in how the mind can help heal the body. Her life is an inspiration, and her wisdom struck right at my heart–and at the heart of the person I would like to be. Her stories might not make you cry, but they would make you think. Because her message is that each of us, in our own way, can change the world.
Most of us are not aware that we can make a difference in the world just as we are right now–that within ourselves we carry the power which can transform the lives of other people just by opening our hearts, or making a simple gesture. Her stories were clear examples of how human connection is not only healing, but is life-changing. The way she changed my life today.
Because her message was what I needed to hear right now—at a time when we are electing a new president, when people are anxious about the state of the economy, the country, the planet, the future for our children.
I read her books years ago, and at the time, I took her words and wisdom to heart. But life goes on, and we sometimes forget what’s most important. Today, I got a reminder— that no matter what, we are still people, we still have the ability to love, to make a difference, and to fulfill our role as human beings by connecting with each other. Through her words, I could see the way I could do this, by connecting through my own stories, and through my heart.
Rick Katz says
Darryle,
I had been thinking Canada. Is that not far enough? New Zealand does have the advantage of being snake-free. Snakes are the only phobia I have which is of more concern than four more years of Republican rule.
Darryle says
Rick puts his money where his mouth is, and has several political websites, my favorite being http://www.thedailyrant.us/.
Rick, I hope you and I can both stop ranting in a few days. Besides, after all these years of you living in Miami, I think Canada would be way too cold for you.