Qualifer: You can't change the world

I need to make a clarification about last week's post due to some misunderstandings.

First of all, if you look up the definition of "world", there are many entries. For example:

4. The inhabitants of the earth; the human race.

11. All that relates to or affects the life of a person

Last week's post referred to definition 4. I apologize, I should have been more clear. I don't think that anything I will do in life will have a breath of a chance to affect the entire human race. That was the gist of it. On the other hand, and I think that this is what people were thinking about, I would argue the opposite for any person using definition 11. Anyone can change the lives of people in their own sphere of influence. For one small example, I think of all my teachers and leaders that taught me and were a good example to me while I was growing up. They may not even realize the life they touched, and I am sure they at times thought their efforts were falling on deaf ears, but collectively they had a huge impact on who I am today. I am indebted to the scores of people who have changed my life for good. 

My goal is not to save every starving child or eliminate AIDS or poverty. My dreams used to be big like that but they aren't anymore. My goals now lie along the lines of someday maybe I will say something nice to someone that is having a bad day, or smile at someone that thinks no one cares about them. Maybe after that I could have more patience or listen to someone. Maybe I could even someday love someone that is unlovable, share the gospel, be a decent mom, a good wife, a pleasant person to be around, and maybe crack a few jokes that someone thinks are funny. These are still pretty lofty goals for me, but I think they might be achievable if I work really hard. 

This is Alex at his poster session at the ACS meeting in Boston a few weeks ago. He is with his advisor, Dr. Katzenellenbogen. He did a good job. Believe me. 

You can't change the world.

It's true, you can't. At least, not very much. Unless you are one of the few individuals in this world who really make a difference. Chances are, you're not.

I used to be an idealistic teenager who thought I really had a chance at making the world a better place. Heck, I probably still thought that as late as age 24, although my idealism was severely injured and dying at that point. That is what vet school does to you. Now I realize that I have little chance of changing the world. But my question now is: Who cares? Because if I am truly happy and if I can help a few people around me be happy, then isn't that good enough?

Poll the audience: According to scientific research, the most important things in life we can have to make us happy are

a) money
b) lots of money
c) a cat named Ruben
d) beach resort in Florida
e) chocolate
f) meaningful relationships

Correct answer: all of the above if you are me. E and F if you are a normal person. There is some good info on this blog if you are into the happiness thing.

This post was originally supposed to be about a cookie recipe I adapted and thought I would share. I am not sure how it morphed into the philosophy-on-life-smash-your-bubble post that it did, but I did make some okay cookies yesterday. I found this recipe yesterday and pooh-poohed it originally. I mean, I have nothing against low fat anything. I am notorious for replacing butter with applesauce and/or plain yogurt in cakes and sweet breads, although I am usually of the opinion that cookies deserve butter. I mean, if you are going to eat a cookie, eat a cookie for crying out loud.

But I tried it anyway. Meet the Pancake Cookie.

Hold on, you say. I probably named them that because my lame cookies look more like a pancake than a cookie, you say. And you would be right. But they are cookie sized and they have chocolate chips and they are sweet and even a little delicious and even though they resemble pancakes from too-runny batter and have cake-like texture THEY ARE STILL COOKIES!!!

So, this cookie doesn't have the normal amount of butter. In fact, the way I made it, it has very little. It was easy, required easy ingredients, and being the low fat cookie that it is, I thought it was decent. So I thought I would share.

2.5 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1.5 teaspoons salt
1.25 cup applesauce
2 cups brown sugar
1/4 cup soft butter
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1.5 cups semisweet chocolate chips (remember happiness?)

You know the drill. Combine the dry stuff. Beat the wet stuff together. Mix them together, stir in the chocolate chips, plop them on a cookie sheet a couple inches apart, bake 10 min at 375. Let them sit on the pan for a couple minutes until they are all set and firm-like. Then cool them on a rack. I can also see this being good with some milled flax seed mixed in or perhaps some cornmeal thrown in to replace some of the flour. Whole wheat flour would also probably work if you are going for healthy cookie (is that an oxymoron?)

So there you have it. Chocolate = happiness. Good cookies = happy husband = happiness. It's easy.