à la carte spirit by ilona fried
ilona fried
1,000+ views, but who is counting?
Last night I checked this blog’s “stats” page and saw that it had 999 views. 999! Before I dive into the “who is counting” part, I would like to thank whoever is reading or eyeballing this blog, even if you don’t comment or “like” the posts (if you don’t wish to comment publicly, you can … Continue reading
Lessons from a Goat
I met this goat yesterday at a farm where I attended a workshop on compassion (facilitated by humans but taught by horses). While the workshop was fascinating, I learned just as much from this creature, with whom I spent a good chunk of the lunch break. Unlike the horses and their subtler forms of expression … Continue reading
Primary Care, Second Rate Treatment
I’m beginning to think that finding a doctor is like dating, an adventure punctuated with high hopes and dashed expectations. Sometimes, one gets lucky and feels simpatico right away. Other times, one might — out of convenience, inertia, fear of the unknown — stay in a relationship that is OK but not great or avoid … Continue reading
Potlucks as Spiritual Yardstick
Years ago, I loathed potlucks. As a former Manhattanite, I had dined at my fair share of upscale restaurants, thanks to a foodie boyfriend. Having traveled and lived overseas, I’d enjoyed lots of authentic if not exotic cuisine. At some point, I decided that if I were to eat a meal out (in a restaurant … Continue reading
Things Can Change in an Instant
On Saturday I awoke at 5a.m., intending to hike Mt. Flora (13,146′) and neighboring peaks with the Colorado Mountain Club. I hadn’t been at altitude in weeks, partly because I had been nursing a tweaked knee, partly out of fear. The longer I’m away from the higher peaks, the worse I feel and the harder … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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