"The source of crafts, sciences and arts is the power of reflection. Make ye every effort that out of this ideal mine there may gleam forth such pearls of wisdom and utterance as will promote the well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of the earth. " -Baha'u'llah
It's interesting to think of the source of the sciences being the power of reflection. I feel like it could have two meanings. That we find a way to reflect the knowledge that God has given us, or that we must reflect in order to gain knowledge in the sciences (and crafts and arts, though I feel like that is a little more obvious).
Just a little thought for the evening...
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Be careful what you ask for...
These past few weeks have been quite a ride. I had a great birthday, and a good visit with the family for my birthday. I've gotten a lot done at work, which is exciting. Yesterday, I was marvelling at how familiar I am with my project now, whereas 5 weeks ago I had no clue what was going on. I got just a little glimpse at what it means to become the expert in your research area. I am no expert, but I've had people come to me with questions, which is a cool feeling.
I've also experienced a very fast answer to prayers, one which I wanted but at the same time isn't easy :). I found myself feeling like I wasn't moving forward, I wasn't improving. So I prayed for assistance with that, to better cleanse my "heart with the burnish of the spirit," to help me learn more, to better develop my skills to make a contribution in this world. And, lo and behold, within a few days, challenges and decisions came a-calling. Although, yesterday helped me to realize that, in some cases, it's better to just make a decision and stick to it. Especially decisions that, while they're important, their effects will only last a short time. A day, a few days, a few weeks, a few months. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Now of course I'm not doing it without any thought, but I'm also not going to dwell on it for days. Action is very important.
"When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die." -Eleanor Roosevelt
I've also experienced a very fast answer to prayers, one which I wanted but at the same time isn't easy :). I found myself feeling like I wasn't moving forward, I wasn't improving. So I prayed for assistance with that, to better cleanse my "heart with the burnish of the spirit," to help me learn more, to better develop my skills to make a contribution in this world. And, lo and behold, within a few days, challenges and decisions came a-calling. Although, yesterday helped me to realize that, in some cases, it's better to just make a decision and stick to it. Especially decisions that, while they're important, their effects will only last a short time. A day, a few days, a few weeks, a few months. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Now of course I'm not doing it without any thought, but I'm also not going to dwell on it for days. Action is very important.
"When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die." -Eleanor Roosevelt
Monday, June 25, 2007
This is my life
Tonight, as I was praying, I had a "step back" moment. I took a second to think about my life from the outside, from the future. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the day to day, working and trying so hard, to not really appreciate what I'm doing. Every day, I try to do my best and as much as I can, but I don't step back often enough. I have an amazing internship, and it turns out I'm actually doing something useful. I am a graduate student at Cornell University. I have finished my undergraduate degree, and have incredible friendships because of it. These are the days that some day I will say, "Well, when I was your age...". It's easy to look around me and see the 30-somethings and 40-somethings with their lives. But what I don't do often enough is realize that every day I'm putting another block into place on my life, creating the foundation and setting the course where it will go.
I thought to myself this weekend, "If in my later years, I decide to take an autobiography course, I don't want my book to be boring." (I saw an advertisement for just such a course while visiting my grandparents who are living in a retirement community now. If you've ever seen "In Her Shoes", it's something like that, except in the Midwest).
I thought to myself this weekend, "If in my later years, I decide to take an autobiography course, I don't want my book to be boring." (I saw an advertisement for just such a course while visiting my grandparents who are living in a retirement community now. If you've ever seen "In Her Shoes", it's something like that, except in the Midwest).
Saturday, June 16, 2007
As I sit and think over the events of the past couple weeks, I'm just speechless. I have learned, felt, understood, discovered, experienced, worked, developed, driven :-p, seen, and said so much.
Last night, I drove down to College Park for an evening of fun with new and old friends. After quite the dinner adventure, we headed to downtown DC (H street) to the Palace of Wonders, a recently opened bar whose decor features many real and not so real oddities. There were pictures/posters about a sword swallowing woman, a two headed sheep, a two headed bull, a turtle playing an accordion, an alien's skull, and other such oddities. But the real reason we went there was to see my fellow math girl's roomie spin fire. Yep, you heard me right. Fire. There was fire poi, a fire umbrella, fire hula hoop, fire fans, and someone even ate fire. It was incredible, and rather warm. It was a whole act. There were 5 performers and they each did 4 pieces each, music, dancing, and fire. A few of them did some things with a black light and UV stuff (a glowing hula hoop, glowing spheres inside amazingly stretchy elastic, so it looked like a two ended sock... clearly not easy to describe). It was pretty incredible to see what they could do while spinning fire around themselves. I couldn't stop saying, "Wow." I also got to see Chinatown for the first time, and drove past the Capitol building.
I've discovered a walking path that begins behind our house that leads to a path around a lake. It's a very nice way to escape from roads and cars and walk through the trees and around the lake. It's a nice blend of shade and sunshine along the path. One evening, while I was walking, I saw 4 deer, 3 rabbits, a kind of bird I've never seen before (a wading bird that was a dark grey with a white streak and a white plume), ducks, geese, and heard the crickets and geese and frogs calling to each other :). I'm definitely looking forward to spending lots of time on that path this summer.
Today I will not be in a car. I have been in the car far too much, in traffic, on highways, running errands, etc. I just need to slow down. And so I will.
Last night, I drove down to College Park for an evening of fun with new and old friends. After quite the dinner adventure, we headed to downtown DC (H street) to the Palace of Wonders, a recently opened bar whose decor features many real and not so real oddities. There were pictures/posters about a sword swallowing woman, a two headed sheep, a two headed bull, a turtle playing an accordion, an alien's skull, and other such oddities. But the real reason we went there was to see my fellow math girl's roomie spin fire. Yep, you heard me right. Fire. There was fire poi, a fire umbrella, fire hula hoop, fire fans, and someone even ate fire. It was incredible, and rather warm. It was a whole act. There were 5 performers and they each did 4 pieces each, music, dancing, and fire. A few of them did some things with a black light and UV stuff (a glowing hula hoop, glowing spheres inside amazingly stretchy elastic, so it looked like a two ended sock... clearly not easy to describe). It was pretty incredible to see what they could do while spinning fire around themselves. I couldn't stop saying, "Wow." I also got to see Chinatown for the first time, and drove past the Capitol building.
I've discovered a walking path that begins behind our house that leads to a path around a lake. It's a very nice way to escape from roads and cars and walk through the trees and around the lake. It's a nice blend of shade and sunshine along the path. One evening, while I was walking, I saw 4 deer, 3 rabbits, a kind of bird I've never seen before (a wading bird that was a dark grey with a white streak and a white plume), ducks, geese, and heard the crickets and geese and frogs calling to each other :). I'm definitely looking forward to spending lots of time on that path this summer.
Today I will not be in a car. I have been in the car far too much, in traffic, on highways, running errands, etc. I just need to slow down. And so I will.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
recent adventures of rinny the awesome
This week has definitely relied on the super hero in me. The grandparent visit was very nice, far too short (silly airplanes), but quite enjoyable. I must say it was weird saying goodbye to my mom in the middle of the Detroit airport. Just a strange place to be saying goodbye to her. The Odyssey of the Mind World Finals were held somewhere near Detroit, because the place was swarming with school groups from all over the world, and I ended up sharing my flight with several of them. I forgot how novel an airplane is when you're 10. :)
My very brief days of vacation were enjoyable, I got to know my city just a little bit better, and now work has begun. The first day was quite intense, all orientation and paperwork and stuff, but all done with much seriousness. But I met several of the people that I'll be working near or with this summer, so that was great :). We all had some fun together yesterday, with games and cook out and stories. I'm definitely excited about Monday.
I've been reading a lot this week, including Little Earthquakes, which I thoroughly enjoyed and it also helped me be very patient about becoming a mother and more aware about important factors when choosing a spouse. Extremely enjoyable to read, well-written, and good content = a very good book.
My sense of home is constantly changing these days. I go home to SC, but only the people seem like home. The boys are quickly getting bigger, but they still remember me which makes me oh so happy. My family has changed dramatically, and even the city is changing. The place that feels like home the most is now my apartment in NY. I walked into a Wegman's grocery store down here in MD the other day, and I was so excited to be there because it was such a familiar place. I could just feel myself relax a little bit by being there. Odd, very odd. I can't wait to go back to NY next weekend. See old friends and being back in my own space.
I keep having this line from Lion King run through my head: "Home is where your rump rests." - Pumbaa. Lion King was full of great wisdom :).
My very brief days of vacation were enjoyable, I got to know my city just a little bit better, and now work has begun. The first day was quite intense, all orientation and paperwork and stuff, but all done with much seriousness. But I met several of the people that I'll be working near or with this summer, so that was great :). We all had some fun together yesterday, with games and cook out and stories. I'm definitely excited about Monday.
I've been reading a lot this week, including Little Earthquakes, which I thoroughly enjoyed and it also helped me be very patient about becoming a mother and more aware about important factors when choosing a spouse. Extremely enjoyable to read, well-written, and good content = a very good book.
My sense of home is constantly changing these days. I go home to SC, but only the people seem like home. The boys are quickly getting bigger, but they still remember me which makes me oh so happy. My family has changed dramatically, and even the city is changing. The place that feels like home the most is now my apartment in NY. I walked into a Wegman's grocery store down here in MD the other day, and I was so excited to be there because it was such a familiar place. I could just feel myself relax a little bit by being there. Odd, very odd. I can't wait to go back to NY next weekend. See old friends and being back in my own space.
I keep having this line from Lion King run through my head: "Home is where your rump rests." - Pumbaa. Lion King was full of great wisdom :).
Friday, May 25, 2007
Then again, maybe not.
This morning, I got up thinking I was heading to Madison, WI for lunch. We got out of Columbia just fine, my mom and I continue to have fun together, and we arrive in Detroit no problem. We have a relatively short but comfortable layover, board the flight to Madison, and start chatting with our neighbor. We taxi out to the runway, and then we sit for a while. Turns out a warning light came on. They decided to check it out, decided it was just a faulty bulb and replaced it. Then the light came back on with the supposedly fixed bulb. They decide it's a real problem, look into it, and then (after a full hour of sitting on the plane) they decide to cancel the flight. My mom and my excellent teamwork kick in, and after waiting in lines, talking on phones and to customer service, we're now in Detroit for another 5 hours and arriving in Madison 7 hours late. Oh well. Such is the life of flying. It's a good thing that my mom and I have a lot of fun together, no matter what we're doing. Maybe it's that we're especially silly when together, but everything seems hilarious :). Especially thinking back to our fabulous day yesterday.
Yesterday was my SC beach day. SC beaches are pretty nice, and there's one beach that I've been going to for a long time and I wanted to take my one chance this summer to go. We met Erin at Moe's for lunch, which was fabulous. Catching up, sharing Moe's together again, discussing GG a bit, and just enjoying each other's company. I was sad to leave, but I also wanted to get to the beach before the rain started. But we got to the beach.
And now it's time for a commercial break. Back later...
The wait is almost over! After watching an old episode of Grey's Anatomy and then Fried Green Tomatoes, we almost forgot we were in an airport for a while. An entire plane to Frankfurt boarded and took off without me really noticing.
For the beach, I want to remember parasurfing, good long talks about family, the incredible wind, the flying sand, the sprinklers, and sitting in the car overlooking the ocean just to escape the wind and rain.
This week I have learned a lot about my family, and understood more about my childhood and my perspective. It has been so incredibly helpful and enlightening. It really is the exciting the relationship you develop with your parents as you grow up.
Yesterday was my SC beach day. SC beaches are pretty nice, and there's one beach that I've been going to for a long time and I wanted to take my one chance this summer to go. We met Erin at Moe's for lunch, which was fabulous. Catching up, sharing Moe's together again, discussing GG a bit, and just enjoying each other's company. I was sad to leave, but I also wanted to get to the beach before the rain started. But we got to the beach.
And now it's time for a commercial break. Back later...
The wait is almost over! After watching an old episode of Grey's Anatomy and then Fried Green Tomatoes, we almost forgot we were in an airport for a while. An entire plane to Frankfurt boarded and took off without me really noticing.
For the beach, I want to remember parasurfing, good long talks about family, the incredible wind, the flying sand, the sprinklers, and sitting in the car overlooking the ocean just to escape the wind and rain.
This week I have learned a lot about my family, and understood more about my childhood and my perspective. It has been so incredibly helpful and enlightening. It really is the exciting the relationship you develop with your parents as you grow up.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Parents
Today was my sister's graduation party. Along with two of her friends, she was honored for having completed her high school education. I was proud of her :). It was an interesting collection of generations at the backyard barbecue, and I fit somewhere in between, not quite part of any of them. As is typical of me in a large group, I tried to take on a role. First, I was big sister and photographer. Then, I was child care. Then I was daughter. Then I escaped and finished my book ;). 
During my different functions, I observed some of the mothers/fathers with young children vs. the parents of the graduates. This morning my mom said something to me as we hugged for the billionth time about how she was the luckiest person on the world. I said something about being a very lucky person as well, and she replied, "yes, but I'm the luckiest." For some reason, it made me think back to how much has changed since I was born (well all the children, but I was thinking from my perspective specifically). For me, my mom has always been just that - my mom. I'm learning new things about her all the time, but she's still my mom. However, from her perspective, she's watched me develop into a person, becoming someone slightly different every year. Beginning as a baby with very little personality or uniqueness, into a toddler who is just exploring the world and wants to know Why anything and everything, and then through childhood. I began as a baby who just needed her love, and somehow became me. Parents sacrifice incredible amounts for us to become the people that we are. It reaffirms to me the importance of remembering our parents in our prayers every single time that we pray. We owe them that much gratitude and respect. I love being my mother's daughter. But at the same time, it's hard. Everyone loves my mom. And so, next to her, I feel like second fiddle sometimes. Although, I love my mom a lot too, so if there's anyone whose shadow I want to live in, she's definitely on the very short list.
Baha'u'llah gives such a high priority to respect for and service to parents:
The fruits that best befit the tree of human life are trustworthiness and godliness, truthfulness and sincerity; but greater than all, after recognition of the unity of God, praised and glorified be He, is regard for the rights that are due to one's parents. This teaching hath been mentioned in all the Books of God, and reaffirmed by the Most Exalted Pen. Consider that which the Merciful Lord hath revealed in the Qur'án, exalted are His words: "Worship ye God, join with Him no peer or likeness; and show forth kindliness and charity towards your parents..." Observe how loving-kindness to one's parents hath been linked to recognition of the one true God!
During my different functions, I observed some of the mothers/fathers with young children vs. the parents of the graduates. This morning my mom said something to me as we hugged for the billionth time about how she was the luckiest person on the world. I said something about being a very lucky person as well, and she replied, "yes, but I'm the luckiest." For some reason, it made me think back to how much has changed since I was born (well all the children, but I was thinking from my perspective specifically). For me, my mom has always been just that - my mom. I'm learning new things about her all the time, but she's still my mom. However, from her perspective, she's watched me develop into a person, becoming someone slightly different every year. Beginning as a baby with very little personality or uniqueness, into a toddler who is just exploring the world and wants to know Why anything and everything, and then through childhood. I began as a baby who just needed her love, and somehow became me. Parents sacrifice incredible amounts for us to become the people that we are. It reaffirms to me the importance of remembering our parents in our prayers every single time that we pray. We owe them that much gratitude and respect. I love being my mother's daughter. But at the same time, it's hard. Everyone loves my mom. And so, next to her, I feel like second fiddle sometimes. Although, I love my mom a lot too, so if there's anyone whose shadow I want to live in, she's definitely on the very short list.Baha'u'llah gives such a high priority to respect for and service to parents:
The fruits that best befit the tree of human life are trustworthiness and godliness, truthfulness and sincerity; but greater than all, after recognition of the unity of God, praised and glorified be He, is regard for the rights that are due to one's parents. This teaching hath been mentioned in all the Books of God, and reaffirmed by the Most Exalted Pen. Consider that which the Merciful Lord hath revealed in the Qur'án, exalted are His words: "Worship ye God, join with Him no peer or likeness; and show forth kindliness and charity towards your parents..." Observe how loving-kindness to one's parents hath been linked to recognition of the one true God!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Home
I haven't seen so many South Carolina license plates in a while. It's fun. I got Marble Slab ice cream tonight, and was silly with my sister in Target :). Plus, I played in the park with my favorite little boys.
I realized today that I feel like people often question my decisions, or criticize. One or the other. And I don't really get it. Do I not often make sense? I like my decisions, but it's annoying to always have to defend them.
I started reading "Nights of Rain and Stars" for the second time on the plane today. There was one part where a girl had gotten really ill, and later apologized to the woman who took care of her about the mess. This woman replied that it wasn't a big deal, the important thing was that she felt better, and that she should know this since she was a nurse. That struck me. It's really the mindset we should have. The labor that goes into something is not as important as the end result.
I really love this book. It makes me laugh, cry, smile, and think. That's pretty neat to have all in one book (that really isn't too long). The main theme of the book seems to be that it's often so easy to see and fix other people's problems or dilemmas, but very hard to take advice/suggestions/criticisms on your own life and to fix your own conflicts. It's something very important to remember.
After a day of travelling, I'm exhausted. Tomorrow, I get to cook for my mom's meeting. I'm excited :).
I realized today that I feel like people often question my decisions, or criticize. One or the other. And I don't really get it. Do I not often make sense? I like my decisions, but it's annoying to always have to defend them.
I started reading "Nights of Rain and Stars" for the second time on the plane today. There was one part where a girl had gotten really ill, and later apologized to the woman who took care of her about the mess. This woman replied that it wasn't a big deal, the important thing was that she felt better, and that she should know this since she was a nurse. That struck me. It's really the mindset we should have. The labor that goes into something is not as important as the end result.I really love this book. It makes me laugh, cry, smile, and think. That's pretty neat to have all in one book (that really isn't too long). The main theme of the book seems to be that it's often so easy to see and fix other people's problems or dilemmas, but very hard to take advice/suggestions/criticisms on your own life and to fix your own conflicts. It's something very important to remember.
After a day of travelling, I'm exhausted. Tomorrow, I get to cook for my mom's meeting. I'm excited :).
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