Comments on: Eating Empathy or Expanding my Current Level of Mental Illness (Thanks Anne Lamott)

By: Heather B.

Heather B. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:14:51 +0000

Hey, and Mara, no antibiotics and I’d die, remember…..

By: Heather B.

Heather B. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:14:08 +0000

Yo Mara, Glad to see the GF cookbooks are helping- have you tried those amazing rice flour cupcakes/muffins yet?

Meanwhile- why doesn’t _my_ therapist have a sand tray? I mean, his room is all weird, cluttered with books and stuffed lions. Either he’s a Leo or he’s got king of the jungle syndrome. A tray and sand sounds so zen, comparatively. Last time I was there, his cat tried to bite me. It’s not zen-like, but my husband really trusts the Dr., so whatev. No delving deeply for me, and I’m all for it. Maybe that’s the deal…if you want to figure it all out, you can’t, if you don’t, you must?

But: I’d forgotten how exhilarating/inconvenient/delicious/frustrating
it is to cook and eat gluten free, so thanks for the trip down memory lane. That WAS my sand therapy for the day.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:46:21 +0000

“…you say YES!” Is that the line, Mar?
I really liked this post.

By: maralise

maralise — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:21:05 +0000

Ade–love ya babe.

Kathy–Ding ding ding! This is my second favorite line in the movie (this is probably not the right forum for my first favorite line but I’m sure you can guess…email me).

Wendy–Really? You’ve done it? Tell me more, I’m fascinated.

pjb–Sometimes flip flops is all I can handle. Other times, I can handle more. Thanks for the analogy.

Em–Thank goodness we don’t have to actually experience everyone’s illnesses/weakness to be empathetic. I think simply being willing to listen and care for a person who is unlike oneself is often good enough.

Tracy M–Hooray! I love seeing you here.

Heather O.–I’m afraid you visited me in my non-cooking phase. And you know where to find me…I would love to cook some gluten free goodness for you and your family. Thought about a European vacation? OH–and you’d love the shopping situation here. Loads of bio products and fresh meat (from the butchers…locally grown, no antibiotics, etc…)

By: Heather O.

Heather O. — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:18:07 +0000

Where can we try that sand tray thingie?

And when are you going to cook for me again?

By: Tracy M

Tracy M — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:23:34 +0000

Wow. Amazing. Thanks.

By: Emily M.

Emily M. — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 05:55:30 +0000

When I got gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy I felt a little this way–able to empathize more with my husband’s diabetic mother. Not something I chose, as you chose your gluten-free diet, but something that was good for me to experience. Thanks, Mara.

By: pjb

pjb — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 04:34:57 +0000

Very beautiful Maralise,
Walking in another’s boots (not just flip flops) is probably the most Christlike thing we can do. I don’t mean keeping them on forever, just obtaining even a smidgen of “empathy”. That is what takes us out of our “natural selves” and transcends us to be more insightful and more compassionate.
I can’t think of a more correct statement than the growth and love than can transpire within our own *roof*. Again, replicating those Christlike qualities
Not always easy, but always important.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:31:55 +0000

Beautiful. I especially love your last paragraph.

Sand tray therapy ROCKS.

By: Kathryn Soper

Kathryn Soper — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:01:54 +0000

movie=ghostbusters

i love anne lamott

and you’re gorgeous, girl.