{"id":6783,"date":"2013-08-30T16:04:32","date_gmt":"2013-08-30T20:04:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beginnersheart\/?p=6783"},"modified":"2013-08-30T16:04:32","modified_gmt":"2013-08-30T20:04:32","slug":"happy-fish-cake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beginnersheart\/2013\/08\/happy-fish-cake.html","title":{"rendered":"Happy fish cake …"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"image\"
from m.imgur.com\/mqMgN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today is my nephew’s birthday. We’re all going out to dinner. And although only a couple of us are involved in that decision, it’s taken HOURS. Which leads me to: Why are human beings so weird??<\/p>\n

There were only TWO suggestions, both local & non-chains. One Mexican, one Asian fusion. Both nice. \u00a0But here’s the catch: my husband LOVES Mexican food, and doesn’t care much for this particular fusion place. The birthday boy also probably prefers Mexican. However, the Mexican place doesn’t have dessert, and the drinks aren’t as fun, for the drinkers.<\/p>\n

Is any of this making sense? And (you may well wonder…) what the HECK does it have to do with beginner’s heart? Or a picture of a walrus receiving a birthday fish cake? I was hoping you’d ask…<\/p>\n

I can’t imagine receiving a fish cake. YUK. But if you’re a walrus, obviously it’s an overwhelming gift. A thoughtful, ‘what would s\/he really enjoy?’ kind of gift. As dinner for Jesse should be. It shouldn’t be about what my husband likes (even if I think my husband deserves to ALWAYS be pampered :)), or what I like, or even what the rest of us like. It should be about Jesse.<\/p>\n

And wouldn’t it be lovely if most of my day — at LEAST 86%, anyway! — was spent in this mindset? Wondering how I could offer what my beloveds want\/ need, and now just what I want and\/or need?<\/p>\n

I don’t mean I should deny my own wants & needs — folks who know me will tell you I’m not that kind of girl. \ud83d\ude42 I mean what if I listened more? What if I didn’t assume I know what my sons still like, or my nieces & nephews enjoy? What if I listened for the fish cake wishes…?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today is my nephew’s birthday. We’re all going out to dinner. And although only a couple of us are involved in that decision, it’s taken HOURS. Which leads me to: Why are human beings so weird?? There were only TWO suggestions, both local & non-chains. One Mexican, one Asian fusion. Both nice. \u00a0But here’s the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":398,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[552,618,37,617],"tags":[1323,1181,1187,262,1195,1322],"class_list":["post-6783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beginners-heart-2","category-birthdays","category-family","category-gifts","tag-birthdays","tag-britton-gildersleeve","tag-buddhism","tag-buddhist-blogs","tag-family","tag-gifts"],"yoast_head":"\nHappy fish cake ... - Beginner's Heart<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Today is my nephew's birthday. 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