Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Man Proposes and God Disposes

You can say, "man plans and God laughs," or "from your mouth to God's ears," or any variation on a theme. Last year's resolution was to SIMPLIFY. Of course, that didn't happen this year.

However, diabetes & celiac in our family has certainly caused me to organize. I believe it is true that one way to simplify life is to bring order to the chaos. To "simpliforganize." Organimplify? Anyway, I think I did the best I could, under the circumstances.

This year I may go back to the standard resolutions: lose a few pounds. Take time for myself to exercise more often. Write more. Express my constant gratitude for family, friends, love.

Scheduling time for writing and doing it consistently has been a resolution for years. Funny how this year I have used writing to organize my mind and help me find my way. The consistency was born of necessity. By doing so I have "met" the most amazing people online, the wonderful diabetes OC, celiac gurus, active yoginis, and astonishingly creative photographers. Whereas in everyday life I might overhear someone's conversation at a subway stop or a restaurant and think, "wow, what a great observation on life!" I would never intrude on that person's conversation. How rude! But online I can read observations, enjoy other people's photography or videos, follow conversations. I can add my own comment, give another viewpoint, concur with the author, praise a poem or a picture. Let someone know, "I like what you said. I'm listening."

Okay, I lied in the middle of the last paragraph. I might intrude on someone's conversation. I was at a Starbucks in Connecticut a few days ago with my sister in law & niece. I was waiting to pick up our drinks when I overheard another customer talking to the barrista about staying away from wheat, and how it was making her well. But how hard it was during Christmas, and how she had trouble getting any baked goods to taste good.

Yeah, I jumped right in. Talked about celiac, about different flours, and xanthan gum. Bob's Red Mill, Pamela's mixes, and the importance of staying gluten free. About the pile of gluten free cookies & biscotti I baked for Daniel. Failures & successes in baking. We talked for a little while, and then she thanked me so much for taking the time. Most people, she said, don't talk to people they don't know, and our little conversation really helped her. She laughed and said that she would start going totally gluten free, but she was going to cheat up until her birthday, January 23. "No way," I said, "that's my birthday!"

Just one of those things, you know? Got a little shiver. She thanked me and thanked me. Just as I thank you and thank you, all you many people out there who are listening, commenting, agreeing or arguing. Thanks for sharing this corner of the world, letting me vent or praise, answering my questions and giving me strength. Thanks for all these serendipitous electronic bitch sessions. A happy & healthy new year to you all.

6 comments:

Jillian said...

I love little coincidences and surprises like your Starbucks conversation. I'm glad you are here to share with us and give us support as well. Here's to 2008, may it be happy, healthy, and full of beautiful writing!

Bernard said...

Naomi

I think anytime you can connect with someone like that is great. Sometimes strong friendships grow out of random meetings like that.

I hope that 2008 is a blessed year for you and your family. If you're ever going to be in the Boston area let me know. One of my resolutions (maybe my only one) is to try and meetup with some other bloggers in real life.

Naomi said...

Honestly, without all these random connections, these conversations struck up in stores, online, at school... where would we be? Our connections with one another make the world a smaller and friendlier place.

Thanks Jillian, and all best wishes to you, too!

Bernard, I was about 1 1/2 hours south of you over the holidays!! I have a very good friend in Boston that I try to visit at least once a year, so I'll let you know. One resolution is enough for anyone! I hope that 2008 is a wonderful year for you.

Everyday Yogini said...

Happy New Year Naomi! Building relationships and connections is so important and I, too, am so grateful for the opportunity to "listen in" and participate in the coversations of so many lives.

Be well and happy in the coming year.

jules said...

happy new year! i too love the ability to share my thoughts and opinions in the online world. it's funny how it is awkward in person but totally normal online. i do jump into people's conversations about diabetes if i hear them talking about type 1... hope they don't mind! hehe but you never know when you'll meet your next best friend.

maemuki said...

Oh that is so funny! Don't you love it when things like that happen? Sometimes it's so easy to forget that we are all connected, especially when life gets so hectic. But there are little connections everywhere, if we stop to see them :) That's so cool.