A Month of Thanksgiving - November 6, 2012

 

People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. That's not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and more importantly those who vote. 

Regardless of your political views, regardless of who you support, please remember to vote. 

Look back - to slavery, to suffrage, to integration and one thing is clear. Fashions in bigotry come and go. The right thing lasts. Today I am THANKFUL for my RIGHT to VOTE!

  

A Month of Thanksgiving - November 5, 2012

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR: This may or may not surprise many of you that know me well - I spend bits and pieces of my day dancing. Enthusiastic, wild and uninhibited dancing. Any music is good as long as it fills my mind, body and soul with the urge to move.

I believe that dance gives gesture to what we feel. And the ongoing effort to dance, to give gesture to what we feel and experience, is an ultimately healing process. I love to dance - and I am so very thankful that I still can.

A Month of Thanksgiving - November 4, 2012

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR: Don't ever say it is morning, and dismiss it as just another day. See it for the first time as a new-born child that has no name. See it for a day filled with possibilities. Filled with the potential for adventure. With the possibility of "first times". 

On days that I wake up pissy I am reminded of my Great-grandmother's words - "You woke up alive didn't you? Now get out there and enjoy YOUR day". I am thankful for waking up alive. Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.  

 

 

A Month of Thanksgiving - November 3, 2012

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR: Families are eternally messy. Sometimes the best we can do is to remind each other that we're related for better or for worse - and try to keep the maiming and killing to a minimum. You can't give up on family, no matter how tempting they make it. 

Because at the end of each day it doesn't matter how poor you are if you have family you can turn to you are rich. Be thankful.

A Month of Thanksgiving - November 2, 2012

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR: We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance. Sometimes change comes on four legs.

 

Five years ago Chloe’ - my Border collie - came into my life at a time when I wanted – needed – my life to change. She landed in the middle of my struggle for normalcy like a heat-seeking missile. Chloe' is not my whole life but she makes my life whole and for that I am thankful. 

A Month of Thanksgiving - November 1, 2012

 

Sometimes it is easy to give thanks. Other times it takes a conscious effort. My dear friend Helen shared a wonderful idea today that I am going to try to replicate - giving thanks every day this month for one thing. Making November a month of Thanksgiving not just a day. 

 I love her idea and this gentle reminder. 

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR: Dear friends near and far who know who I am, understand where I have been, accept what I have become, and still gently allow me to grow.

Photo source

There is Time . . .

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience". 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 There is time – and that is often the hardest thing for me to acknowledge. There is time today.

Unfortunately, I am often too worried about returning on time, finishing on time, running out of time that 

I forget it is time to take time. 

Time to walk slower – to match my gait to the leisurely pace of those whose path crosses mine.

To enjoy the sunlight . . .

and the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees.

 

When it appears there is no more time, 

that I have only a few days and then only a few hours, 

and finally only a few minutes – 

I need to remember there is still time.

There is always enough time if I remember that the time is now.

 

“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.”  - Will Rogers