ValerieMaha, passed on more wonderful words of wisdom this morning on her status.

"Everybody can be great,because everybody can serve.You don't have to have a college degree to serve.You don't have to make your subject & your verb agree to serve.You only need a heart full of love."

This is from a speech that Martin Luther King Jr gave in 1968. Here is a video link to a 1:32 minute excerpt from that speech.

www.karmatube.org/videos
.php?id=2959

One of the first things that struck me when I listened to this recording is that I don't think I've really ever HEARD MLK jr speak for any length of time before (and yes this recording is brief itself). I've read many of his quotes and writings, but I've never really sat and listened to him speak. As we all know, voice, mannerisms, can make quite an impact. I understand why people were so intent when they listened to him. He is captivating. I already knew that, now I know better as to why.

Another thing that came to me was that I believe we shy away from or do not embrace the "service" mentality because of the connotation it holds for many of us. What do you picture when you picture the concept of service, servants, servitude.

Here are some definitions:

Service: "The action of helping or doing work for someone."
Synonyms: benevolence, aid, charity,

Servant: "A person who performs duties for others, esp. a person employed in a house on domestic duties or as a personal attendant."
Synonyms: menial - attendant - servitor - employee - footman

Servitude: "The state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful."
Synonyms: slavery - thraldom - thrall - enslavement - serfdom

My point, in case you haven't guessed it yet, is that I think we have put some pretty negative connotations, at least in our minds, as to what this means.

I admit the first thoughts that come to mind when I think of the word serve or servant is negative! I never really realized it until today. I think of slavery, or of underpaid, unappreciated servants in the movies. I think of people who are often angry, or hurt or unhappy. Even when I think of service from the religious angle, sorry to say some of the first thoughts are historical of the horrible outcomes like residential schools, forcing people to give up their own beliefs for the "right" ones; or corruption that is hidden under the veil of service. When I think of serving, somewhere there is an attitude or fear of becoming the victim. And here I think of myself as a fairly positive person. See the stuff that can lurk below the surface that we don't even really realize?

Now that I've recognized this conflicting belief, I can do something about it! Really, I believe in service, helping, charity, benevolence, philanthropy, all that good stuff. But as Seth says in the Nature Of Personal Reality, we all hold beliefs that conflict with each other. Most of the time we manage to make them work together and go happily on our way unaware of the situation. You've probably also noticed how easily it is for us to notice these "conflicting beliefs" in others though!

"You cannot escape your own attitudes, for they will form the nature of what you see. Quite literally you see what you want to see; and you see your own thoughts and emotional attitudes materialized in physical form. If changes are to occur, they must be mental and psychic changes. These will be reflected in your environment. Negative, distrustful, fearful, or degrading attitudes toward anyone work against the self." - Seth, channelled by Jane Roberts in "The Nature Of Personal Reality"


So, here I am, I'm working on seeing service in a new light, not where I am less, but where I am more. That doesn't mean better than anyone or anything, just that servicing with love and because I WANT TO is part of making me whole, a person who makes a positive difference.

Now I can see that doing service with an open heart makes us all more whole, and brings us all together. Now that I can gladly become a part of, on a regular basis, maybe even all the time.





Now, workout update - almost done the 30 day challenge. Am hoping to really put in some time over the last few days. I've been waning - not because of want but because Xmas season is sneaking up on me even with my best laid plans.



So, now, what am I going to challenge myself with in the new year? Still thinking on that one.



A number of you were also asking about my paintbox cookies. Well, think rainbow muffins, but cookies. The recipe was a new one to me and I'll admit I'm not particularly happy with the outcome. They are a baking soda based cookie (put soda in hot water mix, no baking powder). My timing was off so I had to refrigerate the dough over night before baking. I'm not sure if this had a negative effect - any bakers out there that can help me out with this one? They cooked nicely but flattened right out when cooling and I'm not in love with texture tho the kids don't mind.

They brown so quickly it was hard to get the colours as vibrant on the finished product as I wanted - these cookies are definitely not meant to brown at all. Although the first 2 trays came out fine the rest, even with me watching browned a little. Darn!

The technique is to make the dough, split out into 5 or six balls, make each a bright colour, divide into 2 each, make ropes, lay a few on top of each other, gently twist into a rope and then roll out and cut cookies. My ropes were too thick apparently so my cookies didn't have all of the colours in each one - the rolled dough colours were too big if you get my drift. I'll try to post a pic later.

If I do them again, I think I will just use a good sugar cookie dough. I would also consider trying to make the rope quite tight, roll in saran wrap, chill and then maybe cut. That way you'd get little round paint dots.

Really cool idea, but my first attempt was not as wonderful as I'd hoped. I will probably try a version again and I will let you all know how it turns out.

DD just got her braces put on. She just phoned me and is over the moon. She'll change her tune tonight probably. She's off to school to show them off! Not like when I was a kid.

And that sums up my calorie wise food for thought today.
Namaste. CJ