Getting the Hot Chocolate Ready — double checking the secret recipe on my phone
Not Feelin’ It? Create It!
It is ten days ‘til Christmas Day!
Not Feelin’ it Yet?
Me Neither.
And that’s OK.
I grew up in a time when Christmas Decorations were not for sale in stores as of Labor Day Weekend,
Christmas Music played on the Radio from mid December right through New Year’s Day — it didn’t stop when stores closed on Christmas Eve,
And the Commercialization of Christmas is something against which People railed!
We didn’t feel any pressure ten days in advance.
In fact, it was only right about now that excitement about the Holiday began to brew.
We couldn’t wait for it to get here and it felt like it would never come!
‘Twas a Simpler Time, although much can be learned from it…
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on December 15, 2017
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2017/12/15/simple/
Eclipse Photo from CBS News
e·clipse (i-klips)
n.1. The partial or complete obscuring, relative to a designated
observer, of one celestial body by another.
2. A temporary or permanent dimming or cutting off of light.
— The American Heritage Dictionary
Curious, our fascination with this,
This “Dimming” or “Cutting off of Light”…
Let us enjoy today’s Spectacle!
It is a Rare Event, and it’s Fun!
And when it is done,
Let us consciously Celebrate the ongoing Daily Miracle of Light:
The Sun
The Moon
The Electric Light Bulb
The Candle Flame
Fire
Lightning
Faerie Lights
StarLight…
The Sun has shone in the Sky every day of our Lives!
That is the Real Miracle!
That is the Real Beauty! (more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on August 21, 2017
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2017/08/21/an-eclipse/
In honor of MESSY MARCH…
In honor of the Beginning of Spring…
Advice to a Young Man in Love
FALL!
Yes, I know it is CounterIntuitive!
Do it Anyway!
FALL!
Let Go of Everything that you Know and have Ever Known,
And Learn Everything that you Don’t Know!
It is the Most Truthful State for a Human Being — this State of Discovery, this State of Unknowing,
Though it takes great Wisdom to Understand this.
Everything of which you are So Terrified!
YEAH! I KNOW!
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on March 29, 2017
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2017/03/29/advice-to-a-young-man-in-love/
Fixing a cup of Sugar Plum Spice Tea …Takes only a moment!
I am very much a Christmas Person.
I Love It!
All of It!
I Love the Brightness of the Faerie Lights at the onset of Winter!
I Love the Kindness!
It also helps that my Partner is the Living Personification of the character of ELF that WILL FARELL played in the Movie.
I Love the Madness of Family Get Togethers —
Seeing Relatives I haven’t seen in a year, when I am at my absolute worst — Tired and Bleary-Eyed and Feeling Overweight!
I Love the torpid wee hours of the morning wrapping presents for people I Love!
I Love creating some inspiring Christmas Card story that doesn’t usually manifest until Valentine’s Day or sometimes Easter!
I hate SantaCon.
Last WeekEnd was SantaCon.
One of many Drunk Santa-Con-Artists passed out in Penn Station last Saturday for the children to see
C’mon! Using Christmas as an Excuse to get drunk and fall down in the street, plastered.
It seems ingenuous, Reactive — not in keeping with the Spirit of this Holiday — taking a hatchet to the Holiday and smashing it just for the sake of ruining it,
They were out in ill-fitting Bright Red Suits and wreaking a bit of havoc, creating a kind of PottersVille.
I Choose Bedford Falls!
I was spending time with MAMA who is approaching 90.
I choose “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE!”
And that’s the thing: You get to choose!
Do you wanna’ run through the snow calling out, “Merry Christmas, You Beautiful Building And Loan!!!” or do you choose to sit at your desk and count your money and snarl like a curmudgeon, “And a Happy New Year to you! In Jail!”
It’s Your Choice!
Christmas is just a Week Away.
Create the Christmas you would like to have!
You want Bright Lights?
Hang a string — takes five minutes!
We wear our Christmas Socks to Work! It brings us Cheer!
You want to have a Lot?
Give a Lot!
As THE COURSE IN MIRACLES tells us, “Having rests on Giving, and not on Getting.”
Want to feel some Christmas Spirit?
Go and Help someone in need.
Offer some Kindness.
Create some Holiday Magic where it is least expected.
…Can be a simple thing!
Nuthin’ sayin’ we can’t don a Santa Hat while we work
Commercially, the Season is rushed to create a kind of buying frenzy.
But Actual Christmas?
It happens Simply.
And without Pressure.
It’s Fun.
It’s not a StressFest.
It’s a MagicFest!
Sometimes we pause in the middle of work to listen to our friend & colleague’s favorite Christmas Carol from when he was a Child — This is us on the “Ole’ Ole’ Ole'” part
When I was a kid, the Tree went up Christmas Eve.
(SANTA brought it!)
There was no “Black Friday.”
(And if there was, nobody paid any attention to it!)
You didn’t even think about Christmas until around December 15th…
Then, all of a sudden (and at the same time feeling it had taken forever to arrive), there was a rush of excitement…
‘In just over a week, it’s Christmas!’
You began to make a List and shop for some presents.
You might decorate a little bit the weekend before — certainly not more than a week in Advance!
SANTA brought the Tree.
It was simply decorated and went up Christmas Eve Night.
You would often Make Gifts!
MOM sewed and DAD assembled toys.
It was FUN!
It was MAGIC!
And there was No Pressure!
It was something you did because you wanted to do it!
It was all focused around the day itself.
The SEE’s Candy Order arrived last night! Ready for Treats…
So, if you’re like me, and you are Crazy Busy at Work right now and feeling like you are way behind because you haven’t started it yet,
It’s Not Too Late!
In fact, you’re Way Earlier than we used to do it!
So have your Christmas!
Choose Christmas!
It is yours for the Taking!
…Yours for the Making!
Maybe you wanna’ bake a batch of cookies or Pumpkin Bread this Weekend?
Maybe you wanna’ pick up a Christmas Tree and decorate it?
Maybe you wanna’ Volunteer at some Holiday Event at a Soup Kitchen or Homeless Shelter?
Maybe you don’t have 60 days to prep for Christmas,
But maybe it doesn’t take that!
It’s still over a week away.
In the Sixties, we were just beginning to think,
“Hmmmmm…. What would I like to do for Christmas this year?”
A spontaneous purchase while at TRADER JOE’s — There will be some Kissin’ this Christmas!
# # #
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on December 16, 2016
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2016/12/16/choose-christmas/
I Love Christmas!
I was never one to give a sweater or a tie as a Christmas Gift.
I never could make much of Black Friday Sales.
Gift-Giving, to me, is a way to reach out to someone,
Take them in,
Touch their Heart,
Express to Friends and Loved ones that they are Known and Loved…
Gift-Giving to me is an Opportunity
To Elate
To Delight
To Bring Joy
To Say Out Loud, “I LOVE YOU!”
To acknowledge that we are all in this Together
To make you feel that you are not Alone!
How to accomplish that in this current climate?
Let’s just start where we are.
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on December 7, 2016
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2016/12/07/half-holiday-full-joy/
Tutti Fruitties
I made a plate of scones today.
Not a big deal, I know.
But it was fun, creative, and I enjoyed doing it.
I made “Tutti Fruitties” with fresh blueberries and fresh strawberries; then I spontaneously added in some chopped peaches, as well.
I made “Ali Babbas” — dates, pecans and cardamom spice.
Ham and cheese “Deli For the Belly.”
“Violet Beauregard’s Nuts” — fresh blueberries, toasted sliced almonds, and vanilla.
I used buttermilk in the dough.
It was a creative process.
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on June 1, 2016
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2016/06/01/a-plate-of-scones/
Dr. JOHN WADDELL
Earthling, Mr. Wonderful, Psychologist, Metaphysical Teacher
& Expert on the Conscious and Practical Application of the Law Of Attraction
JOHN helped sort things out.
He was the Beloved of our Beloved SARK
And she was So Generous in sharing him with all of us.
I once frenetically whined to him that I did not understand how the Law of Attraction worked.
I told him that as I was heading home to speak with him on the phone
rushing from a day of Work and taking care of MOM,
I was late because of missing several different trains, each by a hair’s breadth,
and my phone battery dying
when just as I stepped from the station, the skies broke into torrential rain…
Really? Could I be attracting all of this!?
He spoke calmly and Lovingly, “Yes!
You can change these things. Quite easily.
But why would you want to?
Your Life sounds like a movie — something most of us only dream of Living.
You have that.
Why would you want to change it?
I don’t think that you do.”
JOHN had a way of turning on a LightBulb for people in their Lives.
He handed out small Epiphanies
the way other generous souls might hand out candy to children.
(more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on March 12, 2016
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2016/03/12/1603/
Marcal Paper Products
We have very strict rules in my Household about Disposable Paper Products.
100% Post Consumer Recycled Only.
As a former student of mine phrased it,
“No one needs to kill a Tree to wipe their ass!”
Crass, but Clear.
Reduce
ReUse
ReCycle
The Words are decidedly in that order.
First Rule: Use Less. (more…)
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on October 30, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/10/30/do-what-you-can/
GRANDMA always said Transplanting must be done in March and October.
She always had Beautiful HousePlants.
I am a little late this year.
Got it done in April.
But it was still cold enough.
I think the Idea is that, at least in New York, the weather gets Warmer after March and the Plants can Flourish;
And it gets Colder after October, so the Plants lie somewhat Dormant.
So, rather than in the Middle of a Cycle,
you want to do any Transplanting at those Transition Points.
Posted by Arnold J. Mungioli on May 16, 2015
https://livethequestionsnow.com/2015/05/16/plant/
Live The Questions Now 