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On Being (and Saturday mornings)
March 31, 2012
On Saturday mornings I make baked apples for my family for breakfast. This is one of our family's food rituals, a touchstone to our week, and I love the comfort and simplicity of it.
I drink my coffee. I cut the apples. I kiss and hug my children as they get up from sleeping in. I wash the dishes from Friday night.
And if I can, I listen to something inspiring. Saturday morning seems like the perfect time for this.
One of the readers here at FIMBY (it's awkward to talk about people who read this blog as readers, when I consider them friends) introduced me to Krista Tippett's work On Being. Thank you Catherine.
There is so much fluff in our world. So much fluff on the Internet. There is fluff on this blog. There is a time and place for fluff. Like whipped cream on birthday cake. It tastes good, looks good but doesn't sustain us in the long term.
Everything I listen to with Krista Tippett is the opposite of fluff. It's deep, soul-satisfying food.
It's the perfect way to start a Saturday morning.
I know there's a lot on the Internet that people link to and recommend. If you've got a chunk of time (driving, cutting apples, washing dishes) I heartily recommend Krista's American Public Media program On Being. I've linked to it before and I'm sure I'll link there again.
One of her recent programs was Creativity and The Everyday Brain. If you liked my small e-book Nurturing Creativity I think you'll like her interview, at least I did. I love the feeling that my small offering is a part of a larger movement in the world to connect with our creative selves and change the world through this expression.
I've recently subscribed to On Being and find the programs real food for my spirit and mind. When I listen I feel encouraged to live better. Not in a "is my house organized?" way. But I'm challenged to ponder tough questions like, "What are my deepest values, am I living those? How do I love myself in this process? How do I love others? How do fulfill the purposes I am called to?"
And I learn new words. Like equinimity. Need more of that in my life (smile).
I have talked with many of you - in comments and e-mails - that the Internet is a tool that allows us to connect with each other (I am so thankful for that). To share our stories, to mutually encourage each other, to know we are not alone as we walk our own paths in mindful living. Krista's program does that for me. I'm not alone as I ponder and question the deeper meaning of life and how to live that out.
And now I must get back to those dishes. I just had to stop and share.
Filed Under
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Mara on April 1, 2012, 6:53 p.m.
This is exactly the post I needed today. I am looking forward to listening to the broadcast "On Being" tonight. Thank you for sharing, Renee. This is why I like to ready your blog, because you are real. and you are encouraging. and there is'n't a lot of "fluff"on your blog. Thank you!
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Jacinda on April 1, 2012, 8:48 p.m.
Ooh, I love your links and I too like a diet of nourishing media input - radio programmes, films, books and music. They are my near daily source of food that helps me to cultivate a life I am happy to be living. Argh, but now I look at the CAPTCHA I realise this comment may never get to you because those word tests just seem to be getting trickier and longer(smile)
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Beverly on April 1, 2012, 11:45 p.m.
Amen and thank you! I'm looking forward to buying your book soon. Smile. I have been looking for a pancake alternative for special breakfasts. Can you tell me more about your baked apples? Have you blogged on them before?
Blessings!
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renee on April 2, 2012, 10:29 a.m.
Yes Beverly, I often link to it so I didn't this time (to not always bombard readers with links). Here it is, Baked Apples (with cashew cream sauce). The cashew cream sauce is apparently loved and recommended by others.
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Melissa on April 2, 2012, 1:08 a.m.
I love "On Being." My local NPR station recently moved it to a time that I seem to never get to listening. It used to be a highlight of my week every Sunday at noon, but now it is broadcast at 7am, or some time close to that. (I am almost never awake to hear it and if I am, I am much more likely in serious Sunday morning family cuddle time!) I am so glad you reminded me—I am going to seek out the podcasts!
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Andrea on April 2, 2012, 12:36 p.m.
Found your blog through Beauty that Moves. I'm so glad I did. I love On Being. Look for an old interview about Trout Fishing back from when the program was called Speaking of Faith. That was my favorite. There was also a wonderful one about a French Monk living in a mixed community of people with different mental abilities. It was so thought provoking.
I also do my previous night's dishes in the early morning. I am just too tired at night. I leave the pots to soak and love that quiet time and warm soapy water in the am. My kids are teen and tween and now sleep later.
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renee on April 2, 2012, 1:08 p.m.
I only do the dishes like this on Saturday am, because our Friday night is chill. Otherwise I can't stand a counter of dirty dishes to greet me in the morning. And I actually don't do the dishes usually - that's Damien and the kids job (smile). Which is perhaps why I don't mind it on Saturday morning (smile).
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Karen on April 2, 2012, 12:57 p.m.
Thanks for this link, Renee. Perfect for when I'm working in the kitchen and want to feed my heart and soul.
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Kyce on April 3, 2012, 8:14 p.m.
Wow, I didn't know about On Being and feel so enlivened after listening to one of them (The Sylvia Boorstein...) this morning. It is so good to know there is a conversation like this happening in the media. Good old public radio.
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renee on April 3, 2012, 8:50 p.m.
Tell me about it! Isn't that interview with Sylvia amazing. I'll be talking more about that in tomorrow's post. "Sweetheart, you're in pain..." I love that. Also, did you do the guided metta meditation. Wonderful stuff.
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MJP on April 4, 2012, 2:34 p.m.
Thanks for sharing this program! I have enjoyed listening to a few episodes already on my daily commute. If you like "On Being", you may also like the CBC Radio program called "Tapestry" (http://www.cbc.ca/tapestry/). It is a similar format of one-hour conversations about faith, spirituality, morality, etc. It's also available as a podcast.
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Christine on April 1, 2012, 4:39 p.m.
Hi Renee, I am a new reader of your blog and have been enjoying it so much. I also love On Being. Have you listened to the 2011 Mother's Day show with Sylvia Boorstein?
http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2011/what-we-nurture/
I found her wisdom to be so uplifting and nurturing -- especially as a busy and often very tired mama. :)
Best, Christine
renee on April 2, 2012, 10:24 a.m.
Yes, I listened to it this weekend - so good!