à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Spiritual Practice
Violence is here, and it is us
More than 20 years ago, when I lived in Budapest, a ringing telephone woke me one morning and I stumbled across the room to answer. Disoriented and groggy, I lifted the receiver and through the crackling line heard my mother’s voice. She told me that one of my high school classmates and childhood friend had … Continue reading
Declaring Independence: Would You?
For some Americans, July 4th has become a caricature, a complicated and courageous moment distilled to a day of beer, BBQ and fireworks or, less benignly, jingoistic expression. We celebrate independence, and freedom, but what do these words really mean on a societal level if, as individuals, not everyone is independent or free? Here is … Continue reading
Fire, Fire Everywhere
Wildfire after wildfire has been raging here in Colorado over the last few days. First I learned of the fire outside Fort Collins, 90 minutes from Denver. Although far enough away to be out of sight, winds carried smoke to the city, an acrid reminder of the destruction. While hiking last Saturday in Rocky Mountain … Continue reading
Punctuality. It’s About Time.
No matter how much I meditate or do yoga inversions (forcing me to see things upside down), my buttons are pushed when people don’t show up or events don’t begin at the agreed upon or advertised time. I experience, to varying degrees, irritation, anger, disappointment and/or — if it’s someone I really care about — … Continue reading
Do I want to be “nice”?
I’ve never liked the word nice. It frequently grates on my nerves like other four letter words, even though, unlike its coarser cousins, it’s acceptable in conversation. Perhaps my revulsion at nice began when, growing up, I kept hearing the phrases “nice Jewish girl” and “nice Jewish boy”, which implied docility and conformity to family … Continue reading
à la carte spirit by ilona fried 
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