Enlightened

Many people live their lives never being enlightened. Enlightenment is a rational, well informed outlook and being spiritually aware. Enlightenment is not the place we wind up. It is the trip that took us there. You are still the same person you were, but you have a new ability to see things in a fresh way. Being enlightened means seeing things with open eyes. Your physical eyes are the same, but how they translate what they see is different. They act like a filter, separating pieces of the puzzle to be analyzed in a simpler way. Sometimes a life event leads to enlightenment.  Sometimes it is a work in progress that slowly builds up. All I know is that enlightenment makes life calmer.

What Season

Is it Autumn or is it Summer? The seasons do not have their own identities anymore. Just when it was turning the cool weather of fall, summer has returned. The cool breeze of open windows was replaced last night by air conditioning. I wish the weather would be true to its season and not play games with us.

PCP

Healthcare used to be easy. You went to a doctor and you were reimbursed 80%. Done. Now you have a plan and a sub plan and a network. Since my husband became managed Medicare, he needed to find a primary care physician. This person not only needed to be in the plan, but he needed to be in the sub plan and the network. Yesterday I spent 2 hours on the phone trying to have the insurance company get it right. It took four tries and hopefully when I check his benefits this morning it is really correct. The healthcare system needs to be overhauled as it is breaking down more and more as each day passes.

The Catalyst

A catalyst is a person or thing that precipitates an event. A catalyst creates change. Good or bad, our world needs a catalyst because without one, things would remain the same forever. It is not easy for some people to see the importance of a catalyst. They would rather stay safe in their own ways of doing things. It is as if six friends went to the beach. Three of them are facing the water and the other three are facing the parking lot. The first three comment on how nice the shoreline is and the other three say that there is no water, only pavement. When they are asked to turn around and see that there is water, they say that they are too comfortable in their chairs and do not care to budge but they continue to complain about the view. The new doctor, as horrible as she is, has shown us that certain things in the way my office was run could be better. After spending 7 months angry with her, we opened our eyes and took what she was saying into consideration. Certain old ways have been replaced with new ones and the office is better off. It was tough to admit. That is what will happen with our country. When people stop being so angry and look at what was not good about our country, only then will they see that a catalyst was put there to open our eyes and make things change. Inertia is the road to ruin.

Dinner

Every night as I eat my last bite of dinner, I think the same thought. What is for dinner tomorrow? It is getting to be a chore figuring out what to eat. There are only a few food groups that I usually make. Chicken, meat, pork and fish are the big four. How many ways can I cook them without it getting boring? Tonight I will try a new recipe and I hope it does not turn out disgusting.

Nourishment

I take my breakfast and lunch to work everyday. For some reason this morning it seemed like I was packing for a week. Item after item was placed into my tote bag until it became very heavy. Some items will last for four days and others only one. I realized that eating is a responsibility and almost a chore.

Comfort

Comfort is defined as a state of physical ease. Comfort comes in many forms. It can be in people, in things and in food. To me it is a reliability that you know is a sure thing . During this holiday week I was lucky to have comfort from beginning to end. It started off with a family dinner surrounded by the people I love and it ended with a family dinner with the people I love. The foods were traditional and familiar and that brought extra comfort to me. The first meal included chicken and brisket. According to the entire family it was the best brisket they ever ate. I have to agree. Now the "brisket bar" has moved to a new height. The last holiday meal was bagels and lox, another delicious meal. If you are not Jewish, you do not have the love of lox instilled in you. It is an acquired taste to other cultures but is in our blood. Each meal included wonderful conversation and above all an abundance of love. This holiday season will be etched in my mind as one of the best ever.