I recently heard the word Ubuntu. If you are not familiar with this term, it means “I am, because we are.” The story I read was about a group of children playing outside. A person had a beautiful basket of fruit that they placed under a tree across the meadow. They told the children that the first to race to the tree could have the basket of fruit. Most in our society would begin running with no regard for each other, but the children held hands and reached the basket simultaneously. “I am because we are.” As a whole, we are more powerful than the one. The Ubuntu concept could be applied to our everyday life and, I would argue, should be taught to our children. It is not just what you can get for yourself. What can you accomplish as a group?
I was watching videos of kids searching for Easter eggs. It was a crazy mass hunt to get “the most” for oneself that ended in crying and arguing over who had more eggs in their basket. This made me sad. What if the eggs were gathered together and shared rather than ending with a fist fight on the floor? When I became a mom, I was told by a wise friend that if I had cooperative games rather than competitive games, our home would have less conflict. I liked to encourage creative ideas. Building sets and puzzles. We actually had an Old Maid game that you “won” if you got the “Grandma.” Don’t get me wrong. I know this sounds as if “everyone gets a trophy” thinking. I truly don’t think I believe that. I loved it when my kids were in sports that the team was more important than the individual. Teaching our kids to be a good teammate is “Ubuntu.” I am because we are.
Helping and supporting each other is not a weakness. The strongest societies are built on caring for each other. The strongest families support each other through thick and thin. And the strongest people are the kindest. Those who bend to hear a child speak. Those who gather to build a community. Those who see a void, no matter how large, and work to find a way to fill it. Take this word and make it your own. Ubuntu.
Peace and hugs, Sandy
“Far too often people think of themselves as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected, and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.” – Desmond Tutu
Pecan-Topped Pumpkin Bread
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (about 15 ounces)
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large eggs
2/3 cup water
1 (15-ounce) can of pumpkin
Cooking spray
1/3 cup chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next six ingredients (through allspice) in a bowl.
Place sugar, egg substitute, oil, buttermilk, and eggs in a large bowl; beat with a high-speed mix until well blended. Add 2/3 cup water and pumpkin, beating at low speed until blended. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, beating at low speed just until combined. Spoon batter into two (9” x 5”) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle pecans evenly over the batter. Bake at 350° F for an hour, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pans on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool completely on the wire rack.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls
1 cup rolled oats
3 tablespoons chia seeds
1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds
1/4 cup raisins
2 tablespoons semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Combine oats, chia seeds, flaxseed, raisins, chocolate chips, and salt together in a bowl. Combine honey and peanut butter, stirring with a whisk. Add peanut butter mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula until well combined. Form small one-inch balls using your hands. Spray your hands with non-stick cook spray if the oat mixture sticks to your hands when rolling. Place balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for one hour. Remove and enjoy, or keep these bitty bites in the fridge for a week in a sealed, air-tight container.
Old-Fashioned Popcorn Balls
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/3 cup unpopped popcorn
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light-colored agave nectar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add popcorn; cover and cook 3 minutes or until kernels pop, shaking pan frequently. When popping slows down, remove the pan from heat. Let stand 1 minute or until popping stops. Pour popcorn into a large bowl coated with cooking spray.
Combine sugar and next four ingredients (through salt) in a medium, heavy saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until a candy thermometer registers 300º F. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Immediately pour hot syrup over popcorn; toss well to coat. Cool slightly (about 1 to 2 minutes). Carefully form mixture into eight balls, being careful not to compact too tightly.