Have I Told You Lately?

Was sitting down at the local Italian restaurant today. Food was fantastic! Had a scrumplicious lasagna served with yummy italian salad and a heart-warming hot chocolate. Finished the meal with the best tiramisu I've ever eaten. Lorenzo is definitely one of my favorite restaurants ever!

I sat there quietly, eating my meal with joy. I made sure I savored each spoon of food I placed in my mouth. I guess it must have shown because people were looking and pointing at me. I felt slightly uncomfortable at first but when I looked back to acknowledge them, they were all smiling. The atmosphere in the restaurant became much happier after that. It might just be me, but after that, people start smiling and eating their meals a lot slower. =)

"Love yourself first and everything falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in the world." - Lucille Ball

"Change yourself first, before looking to change your opponent, and in the process, you might find that your opponent has changed himself." - Aikido saying

Really, if you want to change the world, best start with the here and the now - start with yourself. =)

Beautiful song I sang out softly as I was enjoying my meal. The couple seated behind me joined in softly. Enjoy!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCXMkborho8&feature=related


Have I Told You Lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

For the morning sun in all it's glory,
Meets the day with hope and comfort too,
You fill my life with laughter, you can make it better,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

There's a love less defined,
And it's yours and it's mine,
Like the sun.
And at the end of the day,
We will give thanks and pray,
To The One, to The One.

Have I Told You Lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
You fill my heart with gladness,
take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

There's a love less defined,
And its yours and its mine,
Like the sun. And at the end of the day,
We will give thanks and pray,
To The One, to The One.

Have I Told You Lately That I Love you?
Have I told you there's no one above you?
You fill my heart with gladness,
take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

You fill my life with gladness,Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

You fill my life with gladness,Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

Live in the Present

Do not pursue the past.
Do not lose yourself in the future.
The past no longer is.
The future has not yet come.
Looking deeply at life as it is
in the very here and now,
the practitioner dwells
in stability and freedom.
We must be diligent today.
To wait until tomorrow is too late.
Death comes unexpectedly.
How can we bargain with it?
The sage calls a person who knows
how to dwell in mindfulness
night and day
"one who knows
the better way to live alone."

Bhaddekaratta Gatha

Bhaddekaratta - "knowing the better way to live alone" does not refer to living alone as a hermit. In fact, the Buddha reminded a student who misinterpreted his teachings that way and became a social outcast of this. It is necessary for a person to remain in society because he or she learns a lot from people and from living in society. The "better way to live alone" means that one lives with others but remains mindful and detached from mental defilements such as anger, desire, ignorance, hatred etc - living "alone".