A Matriarch’s Example
Despite having to drive all over LA County (from the SF Valley to Alhambra to Redondo Beach), I had a jam-packed yet fabulous last weekend. I spent Saturday evening with a friend at one of my fave restaurants, The Boiling Crab. Being in wonderful company made the 1-hour wait fly by…
Sunday marked the annual Zazou Wine Tasting Fundraiser to benefit AWBW, proving once again that good friends + good wine + a good cause = good times.
And then, the week began.
Between constant work anxieties, receiving concerning news about my grandma’s physical health, and my chronic back pain, I felt myself going downhill emotionally and even had a few sleepless nights. I battled with inner struggles, worrying, stressing myself out, and “sweating the small stuff.”
Thanks to a conversation with my grandma on Friday, I snapped out of it. At 95.5 years of age, Mama Luz is a beautiful soul full of positivity, strength, love, compassion, and patience. She has lost 90% of her eyesight, is suffering from a pinched nerve & severe arthritis, and is dependent on her loved ones for simple activities that most of us take for granted. She stays in bed for most of the day as she is now unable to walk without help. And when I asked her how she’s been, she responded:
“I’m well. Thank you for sending me that beautiful card. And thank you for always calling and remembering me. I love you. God bless you.”
No complaints, just gratitude for the simple things in life.
I then decided that there is no excuse for me to continue in negativity. I started reading That Nich Hanh’s ‘The Miracle of Mindfulness’ and Eckhart Tolle’s ‘A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose’, both of which have lifted my spirits. I wrote in my journal about the week’s highlights: cuddling with my cat, being able to take morning walks, rocking out to songs from my new fave TV show Glee, attending a great book club meeting on the disturbing yet entertaining novel Lolita, enjoying delicious tea given as a gift from a dear friend, and receiving insightful advice from another single career female.
My grandma inspires me to stay optimistic, focus on what’s important, and live in gratitude. I am looking forward to spending quality time with her during my brief visit to Chitown next weekend.
July 7th, 2011 at 8:28 am
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