Alive, Awake, Aware

My "AAA" Mantra

Good morning from chefs Peter and Aiden (their homemade hot cross buns are a delicious way to wake up:-) Try them yourself!

RECIPE: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/hot-cross-buns/

As I age, I’m focusing more and more on the miracle of just being alive. What does it really mean? Physically breathing/heart beating? Well, sure, but more than that, I think. Being alive to life’s realities (good and bad) but also its endless possibilities. Trying to fully embrace our human experience. Connecting with one another in meaningful ways. Stopping to smell the roses and see the sunset and hear the birdsong and taste the coffee. Not sleepwalking through our time here. Waking up to it all.

I’ve seen several iterations of the Sondheim musical Company over the years, from regional theatre to Broadway. The main character, Bobby, is getting older and still single; his married friends are worried that he’ll end up alone, so there’s a lot of frantic (and fruitless) matchmaking. In the end, Bobby is on his own, but he is hopeful that there is still someone out there to “help him survive…being alive.” The concept of marriage as be-all-and-end-all hasn’t aged well at all, but the music has held up. To my mind, Dean Jones’ rendition of “Being Alive” from the original 1970 production is the best. Give a listen—video is from the recording session for the cast album (which I still have)…

SONG: “Being Alive” from Company

May is Mental Health Awareness month. For those of us with a mental illness, every day has that distinction, but I think it’s important to put a national spotlight on mental health at least once a year. We need to be aware of those who struggle (and our own struggles), and support each other. I was honored to co-produce This Is My Brave in Philly twice (2018 and 2022), a show that features the true stories of people living with mental illness. Here’s my story…

VIDEO: “Surviving the Perfect Storm” (This Is My Brave 2018)

BLOG PREVIEW:

In the blog department…I was foraging (metaphorically) for a topic and came up with…foraging! Evan has become very skilled at finding edible nuts, berries, leaves, etc. in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, for example. Join me tomorrow @ Working Title as I write about the different ways we all forage…

And finally…

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“We have a tendency to think in terms of doing and not in terms of being. We think that when we are not doing anything, we are wasting our time. But that is not true. Our time is first of all for us to be. To be what? To be alive, to be peaceful, to be joyful, to be loving. And that is what the world needs most.”

—Thich Nhat Hanh

Welcome to another day, my friends!! Hope it’s a wonderful, triple-A one for you…