Simple abundance

Maybe I bought this book because, once, while walking through a bookstore, it caught my eye and would not release me from its grip. Or maybe a friend gave it to me. I see the price tag has been peeled off and the cover is horrendously dusty. Nevertheless I love this book and this year, 2010, in search of a brand-new life, I’ve picked it up from the bottom shelf of one of my bookshelves, cleaned it, decided that I will read it again, this time with more attention, and see if I remember anything. This book is titled Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach.

I don’t remember precisely when but sometime in my past, when I lived at Lily Pad in Calamba, I read it. The book is structured like a calendar and there is a short essay for each day of the year. You wake up in the morning and read the essay for the day. On and off you think about it. Some essays are better suited to your present interests than others. There is a theme for each month. Her theme for January is new beginnings. She draws you to sit by the fire — hearthside, she says — and dream, look forward to the year and the journey within.

I guess that’s what I like about Sarah Ban Breathnach. She is a writer who encourages her readers to look within. Ask yourself — why do you want that? Is it a genuine want or is it a real need? Do you feel you will die if you don’t get it? Typing that question makes me smile. When I was much, much younger I would have feelings like that. I really want to go to that party on Saturday. If I don’t go, I will die. The boy I’m in love with will be there. If I don’t see him, I’ll die. Now I smile at the memories of that wishful, foolish girl. I am so glad she grew up to be me.

Now I know nothing will kill me except my time of death. Will it be murder or a heart attack? I don’t know, so I don’t worry. I just live life on a daily basis and enjoy doing what I’m doing from minute to minute. Am I ready to go? Yes, speaking metaphorically, my bags have been packed for quite a while now. I’m just waiting to be called and I hope it happens before I’m 70 because I don’t want to turn 70. Readers, please do not chide me on this. Don’t tell me it won’t happen and don’t tell me it will either. It is none of your business. The date of my death is only God’s business and no one should even attempt to meddle with it. By the way, the same thing applies to your death date. You can’t do anything about it.

So just enjoy life while you have it. Sing while you can. One day you may lose your voice. Sing out of tune, who cares? If you love singing, then sing. But please don’t insist on singing on a karaoke out loud all day because you destroy the peacefulness of your neighborhood and your neighbors are bound to complain. Just sing for yourself. That is enjoyable. Maybe I can say that because I live alone so I can sing by myself. No one complains.    

In the second week of January Sarah Ban Breathnach talks about not having money and how that makes us feel. She writes, “It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job,” Harry Truman observed, “and it’s a depression when you lose your own.” That is so true. So what does one do when one is depressed? Try to learn optimism, she counsels.

On the day I read that I had lunch with my dean at the school’s newly opened fine restaurant. It was my first time there. I got excited over all the menus, including the drinks menu. I talked him into ordering lychee-tinis for both of us. It is a vodka instead of gin martini. Instead of olives they use lychees and they also use lychee juice. It is a perfect drink for old, reckless people on a hot day. It is delicious and it makes you happy. Sometime over lunch he called me an optimistic person. I liked that, thought that was flattering because I remember times when I have been genuinely pessimistic. But, hey, not anymore. If I were pessimistic, would I have ordered two lychee-tinis?

Simplify your life, Sarah Ban Breathnach writes. That is also true. Stop scaring yourself. I make a comment about improving their English to my undergraduate class and they are filled with terror. Set aside the fear and do the studying. Read. Listen. Do the exercises. But don’t panic and give yourself heart flutters. It’s not worth it. Don’t worry, your life will happen in its own good time. And your life will be abundant, Sarah Ban Breathnach promises.

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