10 Ways Life is Like a Brick Wall July 2, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Magick & Mystery, People.comments closed
I watched a compilation clip from YouTube yesterday, featuring Will Smith’s philosophies on life.
In the clip, Will talked about the summer that his father tore down a brick wall and asked Will and his brother to rebuild it. When they said they couldn’t do it, his father disagreed.
It took them a year and a half, but they did rebuild the wall . . . brick by brick.
Here are 10 Ways that Life is Like building that Brick Wall . . .
(1) Life doesn’t spring into being in one fell swoop. We build it moment by moment, experience by experience ~ each moment and experience resting on the foundation we’ve already laid.
(2) Whether we’re building a wall, or building a life, we need to focus on the journey rather than the destination. Don’t set out to build the best wall that’s ever been built, set out to lay each brick as perfectly as you can. In time, the wall will appear in all its unique beauty.
(3) Each journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. If we’re too focused on the destination, we risk becoming overwhelmed before we even start.
(4) The way teaches you the way ~ each brick we lay is a bit easier than the last. As we gain expertise in writing, art, music, or laying bricks, we become more proficient with each passing day.
(5) Talent standing alone will not take us where we want to go. We must use our innate talent to inspire us to develop the skills that we need to create what we want to create. 
(6) When we look back over the wall we’ve built, we not only see the progress we’ve made toward the ultimate destination, we see that the first bricks in the wall may not be laid as perfectly as the last. We see how we’ve developed over time.
And that’s where writers have an advantage over brick layers . . . we can more easily edit our “bricks.”
(7) None of us know how long we have left. We don’t know if we’ll have time to complete an entire wall, or build an inspiring Cathedral. Find ways to enjoy the journey each and every day. If we are loving life and all that it offers (right here, right now), we’ve already attained the goal behind all other goals . . . happiness.
(8) Attitude is everything. Whether we think we can build the wall, or we think we can’t build the wall, we’re right. Attitude, not aptitude, determines altitude. Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.
(9) As we gain in proficiency and skill, we become able to share what we’ve learned with others . . . and that adds to the joy of the journey.
(10) Don’t be realistic. Dream big. Fly high. There is a magic to the Universe that manifests itself when we reach for things outside our grasp. If we can conceive it, and believe it, we can achieve it.
Quote: The best thing about banging your head against a brick wall . . . it feels so good when you stop!
Zucchini Boats July 2, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Food & Drink, Vegetarian Recipes.comments closed
If you grow zucchini in your garden, you know how quickly these squash blossom from tender morsels to baseball bats.
If a few zucchini get away from you, while you’re chatting on the phone to a talkative friend, here’s a way to transform the “bats” into “boats” . . .
ZUCCHINI BOATS
2 -3 medium large zucchini
1-2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. each of oregano, basil, and salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cup packaged croutons (seasoned, herb, cheese or garlic)
2-3 Tbsp. grated parmesan or romano cheese
Cut zucchini in half lengthwise. Microwave cut side down for 5-7 minutes, until soft inside. Scoop out inside and reserve ~ leaving 1/4 inch thick rim on sides and bottom of each zucchini half (to form the boat).
Mash insides with butter, herbs, salt and pepper. Stir in cheese and croutons, allowing croutons to absorb the excess moisture.
Replace filling into the boats. Sprinkle with parmesan or romano.
Bake at 350-400 degrees for 15-20 minutes until heated through and cheese is slightly browned on top. Serves 4-6 as a main dish.
Spirit Lights The Way 