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Parma Violets
3/28/20261 min read
Parma Violets - By Paul Goddard
I'm an engineer. I make things and to do this you need certain cutting tools.
One company we purchase cutters from now provides a few sweets with each order.
From the bag of new cutters drop small packets of Haribo or even the occasional curly whirly, something which came off my must-have list some years ago.
Last week though, I was offered a packet which apparently no one else wanted. A packet of Parma Violets.
My Nan always had a packet in her hand bag so I wasn't sure if I liked them because they reminded me of my childhood but I was glad to have them and popped them in my overall pocket.
Today I found myself under pressure to complete some work and it wasn't going well. I had other things on my mind and the job in hand just seemed to be getting more and more unpleasant.
With that of course, energy levels just dissolve and the mind seems to find more things to stoke its negativity.
With tired legs, I went upstairs to check my mail and then I remembered my sweets. Pulling out the little violet packet, I put one of the tiny sweets in my mouth, then another and then another.
Returning to the dreaded job, I got on, but after a few minutes became aware of my mind. I noticed there had been a change, a shift.
The grumbling had gone and I was clearer. The job wasn't so bad and actually it seemed to be coming together.
Could it be the Parma Violets?
I was so sure that it must be them, I googled the ingredients.
Disappointingly there was no serotonin hit, no herbal remedy. Just sugar.
Either way, my mind/body had taken a shine to these little beauties.
How curious; The mind can turn on a sixpence. How wonderful!
Anapanasati, step 9
‘Breathing in, I am aware of my mind.
Breathing out, I am aware of my mind.'