SIMIs and Other Things This Week
A few things I enjoyed this week
First I encountered an ancient story by my old and long deceased wise friend, Nasrudin* that I enjoyed and read for the first time today. It has been awhile since I thought of Nasrudin and this story turns out to be about dandelions. My longtime readers know that I am a flag bearer for the dandelion.
A Traditional Sufi Tale
A young man named Nasrudin planted a flower garden, but when the flowers came up so did a great crop of dandelions among them.
Wishing to eliminate the unwanted guests, Nasrudin consulted with gardeners near and far, but none of their solutions worked.
Finally, Nasrudin travelled to the palace of the sheik to seek the wisdom of the royal gardener himself. But alas, Nasrudin had already tried all the methods the kind old man recommended to him for eradicating such troublesome weeds.
Silently they sat together for a good long time. At last, the royal gardener looked at Nasrudin and said, “Well, then, the only thing I can suggest is that you learn to love them.
“Nasrudin is an international folk hero of medieval origin but timeless appeal. His role changes: sometimes he is the fool, sometimes the sage. He is courtier, beggar, physician, judge or teacher. Nasrudin is indefinable and therefore indestructible. Whether his anecdotes are studied for their hidden wisdom or enjoyed for their exhilarating humour, they will remain an incomparable delight. But as Idries Shah writes in The Sufis, the Nasrudin figure was devised as the pivot for a series of jokes used to illustrate the teaching of the Sufis.” Idries Shah Foundation
A couple of days earlier James Clear, author of Atomic Habits put a quote in his newsletter that I have used before, because it is good advice, similar to the dandelion quote. However, it is out of season although that is not the point, yet, I was surprised to see it: “If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow.”
Nudging
Perhaps the universe is nudging me to take my own medicine. I love the practical wisdom from these examples: sentences that are easily dismissed, few words, and yet so wise.
SIMIs
Finally, I learned this new acronym from well known author Susan Cain, author of Quiet and Bittersweet. She wrote today about SIMIs (the Seemingly Insignificant Minor Interactions of Everyday Life) “The constellation of minor interactions that round out our days. To recommend paying attention to SIMIs is not to urge us to be more social than we actually want to be; it’s more akin to stopping to notice a flower or cloud formation.”
Naturally I wanted to learn more so I read the entire piece and looked up the author, AMIR LEVINE, M.D., who is an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist and a neuroscientist. He is an associate professor of psychiatry and the director of the SecureLab at Columbia University. I won’t get to read his new book as there is only so much time to read. but I did appreciate reading the excerpt in Cain’s newsletter and how SEEMINGLY INSIGNIFICANT MINOR INTERACTIONS OF EVERYDAY LIFE (SIMIS) can transform our lives.
As most of you know that is where I am convinced the joy, meaning and contentment of life flourishes or not. And the best thing is we have the most influence in the small interactions of daily living.
May we all treasure those moments of the everyday, with the people we love, doing what it takes to live our lives and relishing both the beauty and impermanence of daily life. It is such a gift to keep waking up every morning.
Notes
1:) My youngest grandson is on a two day boating/camping trip with two friends. They are sharing the chores like cooking and I am wondering how tomorrow’s lunch will go. Rowan mentioned that they are having fish tacos for lunch on Thursday but not bringing any fish. I asked how that works? “We are bringing fishing rods,” was his confident reply. Good luck Rowan and pals.
2:)School is out and I have more flexibility with my morning so went for a beautiful walk that took about 55 minutes. Perfect temperature, nature’s palate to gaze at, bird song, and the simple joy of moving my body and saying good morning to strangers. It just might become a habit for the summer months – before the heat of the day.
3:) May all those who have recently or currently undergone surgery or who are in active treatment heal steadily and continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead. Take heart and take care.
4:) A wheelbarrow full of gratitude heading your way for continuing to show up here. I appreciate all of you and I am always delighted to hear from you. Thanks to Rob for the beautiful photos. I am so partial to the poppies and all the translucent and papery flowers. Best wishes, always, Trudy
Trudy oh Trudy. The dandelion! The radiant yellow, the brave face, the joy of spring and summer. I have two pots of dandelions that resurface each year and I have dandelions all over my yard. They are survivors – face the lawn mower, the pesticides, the dare I say hatred of those who must have the perfect lawn. I have bouquets of them in vases, I remember bringing my mom bunches of them when I was little. Each and every part of that plant can be used and maybe someday people will praise the plant and love it like we do. Love your post as usual and hope to see you in May.
Dear Pat: You are so often taking time to send inspiring words this way. Please accept my thanks.Ralph Waldo Emerson described a weed as a plant whose virtue has not yet been discovered. He is right up our alley. It is next March that I hope to get to the coast.Fingers crossed. Warmly, Trudy
Thank you for your delightful stories: lots of practical wisdom here.
I, too, am a torch/flag-bearer for dandelions; and I regularly have dandelion greens (which are distant relatives of dandelions) over for dinner 🙂 .
Dear Meguido: How kind of you to send a note. I hope that you will include me at the dinner table the next time I am in Vancouver along with the Green family.haha There are two points of view: Wikipedia describes a weed as a plant that is considered undesirable in a particular place. Ralph Waldo Emerson described a weed as a plant whose virtue has not yet been discovered. In other words, it can be either depending on your point of view. It appears that we are with Walt on this matter. Many thanks for your thoughtful note and for taking time to read my weekly musings. Warmly, Trudy
I LOVE that you are a flag bearer for the dandelion 🙂 xoxoxoxo
Graeme may not agree haha. Thanks Meghan. Big hugs from your Mom.
Trudy,
I’m a huge fan of Rumi and I love the Nasrudin story and the photos!
Wendy
Hi Wendy: You are such a cheerleader, many thanks, Warmly, Trudy
May you have bouquets of dandelions dear Trudy, along with the other beautiful flowers you show us here 🙂 xoxo
Thank you dear Janice. There is beauty every which way we look now. Lovely to enjoy some of those moments with you last Saturday. Warmly, Trudy
These sprinkles of wisdom are magic, thank you Trudy.
Thank you dear Pat. I was just thinking about you and here you are. Happy to hear from you, Warmly, Trudy