I
have not felt so content in a VERY VERY LONG TIME… I wanted to find the source
of HAPPINESS that is obviously within me.
I
feel very grateful to be in my city, La Habana, the capital city of the
Republic of Cuba, which I call my Isla Rica..
But
what were the impulses that propelled me to this state of well being, who were
the people who by their good behavior and affection gave me the direction and
who were the people who with their selfish, narrow minded views made me want to
run away from them, thus giving me the velocity. In either case I have to say
Thanks.
The
four points or four directions in my life remain more or less undisturbed:
Havana, in which the Greater Havana includes parts of Miami, metaphorically;
the American Indians wherever they are; In Europe, you find me in Quiberon,
Bretagne or Bruxelles, Belgium; and for more than the spiritual direction,
Eretz Israel, the land of Israel to distinguish it from Medinat Israel, the
State of Israel.
The
two good friends(s) in Miami, my sister and her husband as well as my close
friends M&G, are like spices added to a life that is already delicious, but
one appreciates that spice. I bask in
the brotherly love I receive from my sister and her husband, whom I call my
brother, in addition to the best of BabaGanoush and Hummus west of Akko (where
there is a fantastic Hummus resto called Said’s). Family love has its
obligations and license to criticize while constructively help each other.
Their home has been my permanent address in the USA for the past 18 years is a
testament to the durability and confidence we have in each other. With my good
friends, M&G, it is founded on mutual respect and complete acceptance of
each other. M and I discuss medical matters frequently, especially the
articulate innovations from Israel about Microbiome and view critically the
results of drug company sponsored trials in the USA. A very pleasant
relationship with his wife, G always present, each and every one of our
encounters that we name schmooze, has been an experience to remember. I truly
appreciate their friendship and it grows with each schmooze!
On
a recent schmooze, after I regaled them with the disastrous journey with an
uninterested daughter of Cathay who couldn’t communicate well in English, he
said: Be with people whom you admire rather than going off on journeys with
people who admire you. Well said.
It
is 9 pm in Havana on a Wednesday night and I just returned home from sharing a
dinner with a colleague at a CubaMex restaurant that never fails to satisfy me,
I even indulged in a flan, which is not my habit.
I
am happy in Havana, on a holistic level, as I feel empathetic, sympathetic and
synchronized with the rhythm of this society. Not given to extremism or
extravagance, La Habana and its inhabitants coddle me and in return I love them
and thus spreading the good feelings.
If
you cannot have friends in Cuba, I would recommend that you consult your
neighbourhood psychiatrist, as there must be some deep-seated problems within you
that are how friendly the Cubans are and in my opinion, Cubans make the best
friends, shaped and influenced by the recent history.
The
negative forces that I recently encountered, the above-mentioned daughter of
Cathay, as well as some Europeans with very anti-immigrant mentality, made me
feel stronger for people who are deprived of many of the human conditions we
are privy to. It was a good lesson learned. Indians always say: You will come
across good and bad people in your life, just give a wide berth to the bad ones
and embrace the good ones. Sometimes we lack capacity to know who is who,
deluded by our own emotions and desires or lust.
A
weeklong holiday at the seaside village of Quiberon was not without its effect.
Seafood, continuing my abstinence from meat, time to think and write and play
with delightful innocent people was a luxury indeed. I left with a greater
appreciation of France and for the first time I can even admit to feeling a
little tenderness for them.
Quiberon,
France, Miami, Florida and Omaha Indian Family plus my understanding of my
failures in emotions because of desires of a selfish sort, all contributed to
the euphoria I feel now.
Needless
to say I thank them all.
Cuba
had taught me yet another trick to happiness:
In
our country, with so many quotidian difficulties, it is never good to be with
people who are negative, but surround yourself with positive people, who
believe in the goodness of Cuba and Cubans and the ambiance we live in
This
I have done.
Tonight
I took a break, the five nights, each of the dinners were shared with 7 other
people, today it has been a quiet day and I had dinner with an Endocrinology
colleague.
All
is well in this part of the world ..
