Thank God it’s Monday, again. I always look forward to Mondays, as they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you! Therefore, happy Monday.
It’s the last week of August, which observes Be Kind to Humankind Week, always on the 25th to 31st. It’s another one of those national holidays that should be observed, practiced, and celebrated every day of every year. It’s sad that some people still need reminders (like a holiday observance) to be kind to others.
After all, weren’t we taught to be good and kind to others, as young kids in Kindergarten or pre-school, if not earlier? Why do so many people seem to disregard and forget that very important life lesson when they get older?
According to Wikipedia’s interpretation of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Robert Fulghum (the author) “explains how the world would be improved if adults adhered to the same basic rules as children, i.e. sharing, being kind to one another, cleaning up after themselves, and living ‘a balanced life’ of work, play, and learning.”
‘Greatness is measured by kindness… real worth is measured by consideration and tolerance of others.’ – B.C. Forbes
Kindness is an essential part of civilization, as it bridges the divides of race, religion, gender, and other such differences between people – even political divides. It doesn’t cost anything to be kind and it also has a positive ripple effect that contagiously inspires receivers to become givers, paying it forward to others.
This is the week of “The Golden Rule”, which is a basic, moral principle for society to treat each other as they’d want to be treated, themselves – with kindness. According to Wikipedia.com, the name, “Golden Rule”, came about “because there is VALUE in having this kind of respect and caring attitude for one another.”
Mom was a big advocate for being kind to humankind, daily. She often questioned, “Why can’t we all get along?” She’d always add, “after all, we’re all God’s children”. To myself (NEVER-EVER out loud), I would sarcastically respond, “That’s called sibling rivalry.” I don’t know if she would’ve seen the humor in it or if I would’ve gotten in trouble, for sassing.
‘Happy is the person who has a good supply of the milk of human kindness and knows how to keep it from souring.’ – Gloria Pitzer, This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 17)
Regardless, siblings should especially strive to get along and be kind to each other. I envy the families that continue having close ties after both of their parents have passed on. Speaking from my own experiences, so many don’t.
Two of Mom’s sisters quit speaking to her, up to the day she died. Both of my own sisters haven’t spoke to me in many years (one longer than the other). My husband’s sister quit speaking to him years ago, too. Likewise, some of our friends have encountered the same misfortune with some of their siblings. Parents are the bonding agents.
NationalDayCalendar.com lists some benefits one receives by performing random acts of kindness, as psychiatrists claim, it… “Fuels personal energy and self-esteem… Makes you happier… [Is] good for your heart… [And] helps you live longer…”
‘No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.’ – Aesop
FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
My Cup Runneth Over and I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989, p. 2)
WHY CAN’T WE ALL GET ALONG?
IF I COULD HAVE my way, the whole world would be friends; but then, it is an unrealistic hope, considering the course of human events and behaviors. We can’t even find friends within the same family, most of the time…
I have met some of the nicest people, in the world, [and] some of the most generous people who want to share their good ideas with me as much as I want to share mine with them. Of these good people, I will speak often and lovingly.
Having come from a somewhat lonely childhood and years of struggling to overcome the emptiness of indifference from relatives to whom I had spent, what seemed like an eternity, trying to reach out…
I, now, continue to emphasize, in my own publications [and] throughout my books, the importance of caring – of REALLY caring about each other.
Mom continually tried to be a positive example, lifting others up, through her writings; including a few books dedicated strictly to her positive food-for-thought and inspirational ideas. Throughout, Mom emphasized the importance of really caring about each other, being kind and loving. She held a strong faith in Love and all the things it could conquer.
Kindness is commonly known to have scientifically proven physical and mental health benefits for, both, givers and receivers. It empowers personal energy and self-esteem. It also make us happier, which is good for our hearts; thereby, helping us to live longer.
Acts of kindness help others feel valued. Showing even the smallest amount of kindness can go a long way. Many believe that acts of kindness have the potential to positively change lives. You can read more about the science of being kind at RandomActsOfKindness.org – The Science Of Kindness.
MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
This is not a Cook Book! It’s Gloria Pitzer’s Food for Thought (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Oct. 1986, p. 24)
DOING SOMETHING NICE
DON’T EXPECT THE WORLD to think you’re wonderful just because you do something ‘good’ – for someone else! Good people do good things all of the time – everyday, and no one pats them on the back for it. You have to do good – not for what others are going to think of you, but what you’re going to think of yourself!
If you get a kick out of doing something good for somebody… do it! But don’t expect any rewards or special recognition for having gone out of your way. Every once in a while you may be complimented for something good that you’ve done, and that’s very nice.
But most of the time, whatever you do is to make yourself feel better about what has to be done, or what should be done! It’s not a matter of conscience, but of compassion. Either you have it, or you don’t!
“My favorite daily newspaper in Boston has the slogan, ‘to bless all mankind and injure no man’. That is how I would want to write my own publications.” – Gloria Pitzer, My Cup Runneth Over and I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989, p. 86)
Mom also wrote:
“Being able to get a handle on life by not letting it get the best of us, when the lemons outweigh the levity in our relationships, is a recipe worth having.
Resolving the problems with recipes in the kitchen is something we’re all willing to accept, because cooking is an individual and very personal experience – a creative challenge for some, a positive involvement for others.
Yet we accept the risk of failing at what we attempt with foods, more readily than we will with our relationships with other people. It’s a puzzle to me that we are willing to endure such a paradox that we’ll put more effort into the table we set than into the examples we set…” [As seen in Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter, (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI: Jan-Feb 1988, Issue 130; p. 8).]
AGAIN, MORE FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
Gloria Pitzer’s Mixed Blessings – Recipes & Remedies (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; March 1984, p. 111)
IT’S NICE TO BE NICE
NICE PEOPLE ARE happy people. They don’t go around advising others, however, on how to be nice or find happiness because they’re too busy being what they are. They secure their right to contentment by refusing to be discouraged by cynics or bullied by skeptics.
The nicest people I know are always those who have no personal cause for being nice, except that they are! They are running for office or looking for new customers for their business or shops. Their normal exposure to moods of misery are abbreviated experiences that prompt them to remove the reason rather than dwell on it.
They find life a challenge and every day an opportunity to turn over a new leaf in their calendar of discoveries. Some folks, however, behave as if they really enjoyed misery. It’s not that they actually want to be miserable, but that they don’t know what to do to overcome it.
And when they do know what to do to change their situation, they’re the kind of people who usually need a little push to get going. After all, misery is but a temporary substitute for happiness, a cop-out for their refusal to be nice, their reluctance to be happy with the moments, rather than look for it in the forever’s of their lives!
LAST THOUGHTS…
Just as National Memorial Day weekend (at the end of May) is the UNOFFICIAL start of summer, next weekend is National Labor Day weekend, which is the UNOFFICIAL end of summer – even though fall doesn’t OFFICIALLY start until September 22nd.
Regardless, fall feelings of hot cocoa or apple cider, bonfires, football, and flannel will abound very soon; if they haven’t, already. It won’t be long before I start my fall cleaning and pulling out Mom’s aphgan blankets and my jean quilts.
Sunday, being the first of September, is also the beginning of National Sewing Month. Thus, check out the Crafts tab then, for my posting of Mom’s hand-sewn, Amish Quilt Pattern, as seen in Gloria Pitzer’s Secret Recipes Newsletter (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Sep.-Oct. 1990, 146th Issue; p. 5).
Thanks for visiting! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my memories of my mom, her memories, and other related things. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at [email protected]. You can also find me on Facebook: @TheRecipeDetective.
IN CLOSING…
In honor of August, being National Sandwich Month, and Sunday, being the start of September, which celebrates Better Breakfast Month, here’s Mom’s secret recipe for a “Western Omelet Sandwich”; as seen in… Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 185). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition)]. As always, I’m asking only for proper credit if you care to share it.
P.S. Food-for-thought until next Monday…
August observances include: National Dog Month, International Peace Month, National Back to School Month, National Brownies at Brunch Month, National Catfish Month, National Goat Cheese Month, National Golf Month, National Panini Month, and Romance Awareness Month – among other things.
Today is also… National Dog Day, National Women’s Equality Day, and National Cherry Popsicle Day.
Tomorrow is… National Pots De Creme Day and National Just Because Day.
Wednesday, August 28th, is… National Thoughtful Day, National Red Wine Day, and National Cherry Turnovers Day.
Thursday, August 29th, is… National Chop Suey Day and National Lemon Juice Day.
Friday, August 30th, is… National Toasted Marshmallow Day and National Beach Day.
Saturday, August 31st, is… National South Carolina Day and National Trail Mix Day. Plus, according to Bacon.Fandom.com (and others), August 31st is also… International Bacon Day (as it’s the Saturday before Labor Day, for 2024). By the way, National Bacon Day is December 30th.
Sunday is the start of September, which celebrates… Little League Month, National Americana Month, National Blueberry Popsicle Month, National Chicken Month, National Courtesy Month, National Honey Month, National Italian Cheese Month, National Library Card Sign Up Month, National Mushroom Month, National Potato Month, National Rice Month, Self-Improvement Month, and Whole Grains Month – among other things.
September 1st is also… National Chicken Boy’s Day and National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day. Plus, as the start of the first FULL week in September it’s the start of… National Waffle Week, too.
…35 down and 17 to go!
