What would you write in your Enchiridion?

A few years ago, while browsing in a book store, I stumbled across an enchiridion.  I had never heard of an enchiridion before, but it is a "handbook or manual of essential information."  (Turns out the Catholic Church has written a lot of enchiridions - go figure!)  I was fascinated by the concept, and so I started my own enchiridion.  When I read or hear something that strikes me as appropriately profound, I write it down in my Enchiridion.  (And no, Dear Reader, I do not have a fixed criteria for what constitutes "appropriately" profound.)

The latest entry in my Enchiridion has to do with the energy that we put into the things that we do.  I DVR'd Oprah Winfrey's final show because I was curious to see how she would end her series, and I finally watched it over this past weekend.  If you didn't see the episode, at one point Oprah was talking about energy and a show she had done with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor.  Dr. Taylor had a stroke (which she has recovered from), but during the recovery process, she was struck by the differences in the energy and caring that the various doctors, nurses and therapists brought into the process.  Oprah posted a quote from Dr. Taylor's book in her makeup room:

        Please take responsibility for the energy that you bring into this space.

I immediately started thinking about my job and the fact that there is very low morale in my department.  I try not to get completely sucked down into the morass of negativity, but it is very hard to resist.  (I'll write more about that another day, along with more thoughts about the deplorable lack of taking responsibility for one's actions that seems to be running rampant in American society.) 

Then I thought about my creative projects, and how I feel when I am making something for someone I love.

I knit this sweater for LG, who is one of my nephews-by-choice.  His Dad, PapaBadger, painted a jungle scene on the walls of his nursery.  Mama & Papa Badger decorated the bathroom with monkeys playing in the jungle.  When I found this knitting pattern, I thought it would be perfect for LG and the whole time that I was knitting it, I pictured how cute he would look in his monkey sweater!  The project was a labour of love, and therefore, no labour at all.  The challenge for me is to put that kind of energy into everything I do!