January 2008 ~ Beauty
As you, my faithful readers (all 6 of you), have no doubt observed, I am late with this month’s Jotting. Somehow it has been hard to think of something that I haven’t already written about… starting over… new beginnings… making promises… etc. etc. and then it occurred to me to return to my first love… words. This was, in part, because I picked up a little book that I bought a few years ago at a used book sale. The book is called “Worldwords” and it is a collection of words from around the world… one word for each day of the year… with an explanation of the word and a brief interpretation of its meaning. It occurred to me to share the word for the first day of the month… along with some thoughts from the book and some of my own. So, here we go.
This reminds me of a little story I heard long ago. It is about a young woman who had just graduated from college with a degree in social work. She went to work in a low income neighborhood in a large city. Her first assignment was to begin a weekly gathering for women. At the first meeting, she asked, “What would you like to know about?” A woman replied, “Teach us how to be happy.” The social worker was puzzled, but she said she would have an answer when they next came together. A week went by and the group gathered again, eager to hear her answer. This is what she said: “Before I tell you how to be happy, you must promise me that you will do what I say.” The women promised. The social worker went on: “Each day you must do three things. First, you must read something positive. Second, you must do something nice for someone without getting found out. Third, you must spend five minutes looking at something beautiful.” Over the weeks that followed, the women shared their experience of doing the three “happy” things. Without exception they experienced a lifting of their spirits as they walked the beauty way.
As we enter into this new year, let us open our eyes and ears to the beauty that surrounds us… and perhaps we, too, may find a new happiness as we follow the three small steps of the beauty way.
Happy New Year!!
jbm
January 1
Nasho hozho (nah-SHAS HO-ZHOW (Navaho)
To walk in the beauty way in one’s life and actions.
“Everyone of us makes a unique contribution to the patterns of creation in the world. When we appreciate the need to find our place in relation to all that is good around us, we begin to comprehend the depth of the worldview known as nasho hozho.
In this Navaho concept, all life is viewed from the lens of relationships with natural and supernatural forces as well as other human beings. When one lives with balance, creating harmony and beauty as one moves through the day, then mind, body and spirit mingle together in wondrous interplay with all that is. To walk in the beauty way is to explore the goodness of all creation.”
This reminds me of a little story I heard long ago. It is about a young woman who had just graduated from college with a degree in social work. She went to work in a low income neighborhood in a large city. Her first assignment was to begin a weekly gathering for women. At the first meeting, she asked, “What would you like to know about?” A woman replied, “Teach us how to be happy.” The social worker was puzzled, but she said she would have an answer when they next came together. A week went by and the group gathered again, eager to hear her answer. This is what she said: “Before I tell you how to be happy, you must promise me that you will do what I say.” The women promised. The social worker went on: “Each day you must do three things. First, you must read something positive. Second, you must do something nice for someone without getting found out. Third, you must spend five minutes looking at something beautiful.” Over the weeks that followed, the women shared their experience of doing the three “happy” things. Without exception they experienced a lifting of their spirits as they walked the beauty way.
As we enter into this new year, let us open our eyes and ears to the beauty that surrounds us… and perhaps we, too, may find a new happiness as we follow the three small steps of the beauty way.
Happy New Year!!
jbm
posted by Wayne Manning at 8:49 PM
