Have you ever met someone and thought to your yourself, “this person’s going to be really weird”?  As a counselor who sees new clients every day, this happens to me at least a few times per week.  More often than not, I’m proven wrong and these clients eventually turn into some of my most favorite people, offering a new level of understanding, appreciation and wisdom to my own life.  There’s enough evidence to actually say that these individuals have not only made me a better counselor, but a better person.

Recently, I’ve been evaluating my own appearance, wondering if I need to change the way I dress for work in order to appear more professional to others.  I even went as far as asking a colleague for feedback.  It became clear how much energy I was putting into this deep reflection when I awoke one morning remembering a dream I had the night before.  In this dream I was doing laundry, a lot of laundry.  My newly found online dream dictionary helped me translate:  “To dream that you are doing your laundry, suggests that you are cleaning up your act or changing your image.  Perhaps, you are too concerned about how you appear to others.”  My colleage assured me that appearances aren’t everything and that I shouldn’t put too much more energy into it.  Concern for my appearance has lessened as I continue to receive subtle messages that, “It’s the deeds makes the man.”

The most anticipated component of my trip to Spain in 2008 was the day trip to Tangier, Morocco.  The Kasbah, snake charmers, and camel rides…oh my!  I was looking forward to these experiences more than anything.  The tour company coordinating our experience in Morocco had the best of intentions in providing us with these memories but the staging of these productions made these encounters fall miles short of being authentic.  The first indication that my “memory in the making” was scripted and anything but spontaneous was when our tour bus pulled to the side of the road in the middle of nowhere next to a herd of camels, saddled and harnessed, ready to take 60 tourists each on a 30 second camel ride in a circle for 1 Euro.  In the amount of time it took for my daughter to snap a once-in-a-lifetime photo of me riding a camel in Morocco, my expectations were lowered tremendously.  In the end, it was the chance encounters that brought the most adventure and memory to that trip.  Another big lesson that things aren’t always what they appear to be on the surface.  There is profound value in the simple things.

Couscous is a staple throughout Northwestern Africa and Southwestern Europe that dates back to the 9th century.  Made from semolina, couscous is one of the healthiest grain-based products.  It’s typically cooked in flavorful broth and served with stewed meat and vegetables.  Due to its versatility, it can be “dressed up” a number of ways.  This recipe called for instant couscous which cooks quickly, within 5 minutes, just by adding boiled water.  There are countless varieties allowing you to mix and match it as a side dish.

Well, the moral of the story is that no matter how you “dress” something up, it’s what’s underneath that matters.  This concept has been familiar to me since I was a kid but it never ceases to amaze me how much more I learn about the world and myself as I age.  When you open yourself up to the universe, it presents you with an abundance of learning opportunities.  There’s no need for me to change my style in order for others to see the contribution that I bring.  I’m learning that they already know.  I just need to listen.  The world is full of illusions and I’m acquiring a talent for seeing past them.  I hope to run into another camel one day, willing to give me a saddlefree ride across a small desert, without demand of a gold coin.

Spiced Mini Burgers with Couscous Salad Photograph by Andrea Karapas

Spiced Mini Burgers with Couscous Salad
Ingredients
1 10-ounce box couscous (1 1/2 cups)
1 pound ground beef
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
kosher salt and black pepper
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 scallions, sliced
4 plum tomatoes, quartered
1 seedless cucumber, cut into half-moons
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 8-ounce container hummus (optional)
Instructions:
Place the couscous in a large bowl and pour 1½ cups hot tap water over the top. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes; fluff with a fork.
Form the beef into 12 small ½-inch-thick patties. Sprinkle with the cumin, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook to the desired doneness, 4 minutes per side for medium.
Toss the couscous with the scallions, tomatoes, cucumber, lemon juice, remaining oil, 1¼ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.  Serve with the burgers and hummus, if using.

Recipe courtesy of Real Simple magazine, April 2008 issue.