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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Police Reports Schneider Art Museum installation re-imagines Rivera UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit 10 things to know for Friday Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Letters to the Editor, March 27 Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... INNER PEACE Spreading holiday grace through humble gratitude Comment By Janai "Grandma Boom" Mestrovich for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Janai "Grandma Boom" Mestrovich for the Tidings Posted Dec. 19, 2014 at 2:10 PM Updated Dec 19, 2014 at 2:11 PM By Janai "Grandma Boom" Mestrovich for the Tidings Posted Dec. 19, 2014 at 2:10 PM Updated Dec 19, 2014 at 2:11 PM » Social News “If you are fortunate enough to bake, always share it because that keeps you humble and grateful.” Katarina Mestrovich was known to our family as “Mama.” She was my Croatian grandmother who taught me how to bake bread, apple strudel and other goodies. Mama came over from what she referred to as the 'old country' (Croatia) 11 years after Papa arrived in the United States. Papa built a house, got work and saved to bring his betrothed to the United States for a new life devoid of dictatorship. Mama said the journey was very difficult on a boat where she sat on the lower deck with her trunk of life belongings. Seasick people on the upper deck sometimes heaved onto the lower deck. Her hope kept her in strong form — along with gratitude for an opportunity to have a better life. At Christmastime in her childhood, Mama said, she would receive either an apple or an orange. There were no other gifts. It was monumental since it was the only time of the year to experience one of those fruits. Poor farmers were not privy to a lavish lifestyle. Mama's philosophy included eating all the food left on family member's plates at our Sunday dinners. Not only had she known a life of forced minimalism in Croatia, but experienced the Great Depression following her arrival to the United States. I feared she would burst sometimes from cleaning plates. “No wasting” was backbone to family life. There was a feeling of inner peace in Mama's kitchen. She taught me to bless the bread dough, touching it gently with her hands. She would say in broken English, “Treat like baby.” Her eyes softened as she silently prayed over the dough, cutting a sign of the cross with a knife into the top of the dough, honoring Catholic symbolism. A gentle wave of calming peace would travel through my body like an internal massage. Mama's act brought an energy that showed me humble gratitude was core sustenance for heartfelt goodwill. She always shared her baked goods. I keep that tradition alive. In my childhood in the 1950's a gift exchange took place that provided a contrast to Mama's style of giving. It was a forced, obligatory gift handed to me by a girl who drew my name in the gift exchange. I didn't have the words to describe the feeling of receiving it, but I knew it was not a happily given gift. It was partially shoved, partially dropped in my lap. It wasn't even fun opening it. Once I did, even though it was a nice little statue of a saint which normally would magnetize my attention into its presence, I didn't really want it and didn't feel true gratitude. I managed to say, “Thank you,” which came from my mental realm of memorized "good manners," not true heartfelt sentiment. At that time I didn't consciously know “What comes from the heart, goes to the heart.” (Coleridge) What I remember from the incident was a tense kind of emptiness that felt cold. I am certain it was the feeling inside the giver that was passed onto me. Neither one of us gained grace from the fullness of a heart filled with inner peace, humility and gratitude. The soul pays attention to the light that is carried on the energy frequency of a higher truth not dependent on materialism. The intention guides the level of heart energy given and received. At the same time, materialism, when coated in humble gratitude, can inject goodwill's medicine that spawns the light of inner peace. Mama, in her simple ways, was an ambassador of inner peace. How fortunate that we dedicate time to goodwill which is a benevolent, compassionate acknowledgment and connection to others. May these precious life gems of humility, gratitude and goodwill bring you the joy of inner peace over these precious holidays that are dedicated to the same. Janai Mestrovich, aka Grandma Boom, lives in Ashland, is an international speaker, self-help consultant and has taught at the University of Oregon and Southern Oregon University. Her books are available at Bloomsbury, Renaissance Rose and Amazon.com. Her website is: www.grandmaboom.com. Send 600 to 700 word articles on inner peace to Sally McKirgan [email protected].   By Janai "Grandma Boom" Mestrovich for the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Janai "Grandma Boom" Mestrovich for the Tidings Posted Dec. 19, 2014 at 2:10 PM Updated Dec 19, 2014 at 2:11 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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