On This Boxing Day
On this Boxing Day, day after another Christmas with no tree on which to perch, the Christmas tree top angel, looking more like a fairy godmother, found a dance with Shiva Nataraja and his cohort.

On this Boxing Day, day after another Christmas with no tree on which to perch, the Christmas tree top angel, looking more like a fairy godmother, found a dance with Shiva Nataraja and his cohort.

I didn’t buy a coffee mug, but I did take the picture. If only remembering was as easy as buying a souvenir. Memory, though, it much more ephemeral. I’ll remember this day. Sometimes I will deliberately recall it. Sometimes, images will come unbidden as something triggers a memory, just as the solicitation by a friend last week to support an orphanage in Peru brought back the thought of 9/11. I had been in Peru at the retreat center that supports the orphanage when the planes hit the World Trade Center. I hope for news tomorrow of the imminent closing of Guantanamo to start reshaping our relationship to 9/11.
I love the Vogels’ story. It is wonderful to witness such an exquisite balance of passion and moderate living. Sometimes there is not much of a why for a thing. “I just like art,” Mr. Vogel said in 1992. “I don’t know why I like art. I don’t know why I like nature. I don’t know why I like animals. I don’t even know why I like myself.”
You may need to cut and paste this link into your browser to see the story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/herbert-vogel-unlikely-ar
t-collector-and-benefactor-of-national-gallery-dies-at-89/2012/07/22/gJQ
ANqOf2W_story_2.html
Think of things/activities you like or which inspire you to passion. Can you really identify why you have come to have and develop certain likes or passions among multiple things all worthy of passion (as distinguished from providing after-the-fact explanations of why such things are worthy of your passionate attention and devotion of time and energy–for example, yoga)?
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
It’s almost time for Wednesday evening house yoga practice, and I still have my work computer on and open to a couple of documents that I need to review by Monday morning.
I try a practice from the non-violent communication course I have been taking: Since I cannot change the work situation in the short term, I am choosing to think about what needs are being met by my feeling compelled to work by the enormity of upcoming deadlines instead of getting to enjoy the two hours of administrative leave granted in honor of Thanksgiving.
I come up with this tentative list: it is good to feel needed, to be engaged, to experience a sense of competence and responsibility. As I am working from home, I get peaceful quiet and solitude while still feeling connected through the work. This does not mean that I don’t want or shouldn’t take action to change my work situation to better meet other needs, or even these needs better.
I am truly grateful that I am being brought to my yoga mat for an hour and a half tonight and that I’m looking forward to a weekend of friends and food and walks (and more work).
I wish you all the best holiday possible. May you experience gratitude.
Look forward to a longer newsletter and a new look to the website in coming weeks.