Hope

Today I am thankful for hope....for looking to the future with anticipation, for expecting miracles, for looking forward to new beginnings, fresh starts, for trusting the possibilities, for embracing the yes and all that is good.....for believing in what tomorrow will bring, for having faith that the sun will once again rise....and shine it's light on us.


The hour is late...and I still have a few tasks to do before I fall into bed, so I will just say this... There have been times in my life, when I had lost my hope.  I was in a rough place and I didn't see my way out.  I have also experienced times when hope was restored, when hope is present.  Maybe being hopeful has a little to do with faith...maybe it is intertwined with prayer.  But I know, that when I am hopeful, when my thoughts focus on the maybe and the possibly.....it just makes life a better place to be.....for me and all those around me.  When I am hopeless...I become like a weight...pulling myself down, pulling everyone else down also.

So I will always hope for what is good and noble and beautiful...and what sometimes may seem a tad impossible.  Maybe everything I hope for will not be realized...but I just know that by keeping hope in my heart, life feels better, life is better, I am better.  Growth becomes possible...and.... some hopes and dreams will come true.  Maybe, just maybe....wishing and hoping really can make it so....

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child.  Listen to the don'ts.  Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the wont's.  Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...Anything can happen, child.  Anything can be."

~ Shel Silverstein 

Laughter

Today I am thankful for the gift of laughter.....for being able to look at yourself, at the world, and for awhile....see the humor and not take it all so seriously.  I am thankful for the gift of laughter....as it lightens my heart, connects me to people, creates a bond with loved ones, adds a glimmer of light to the darkness and cleanses my soul.


I am so very lucky to spend my days with people who know how to laugh, make me laugh, and laugh with me.... and often at me.  It really makes time go by so much faster when you get to spend it with people who you can laugh and joke and enjoy life with.  I can't imagine life any other way...that is the family I come from...a lot of stories and joking, silly antics....  Sometimes...almost too much, because just try to have a serious conversation with one of my brothers...it can almost be maddening at times.  I guess that is part of my wiring, the need to laugh and create entertainment and and laughter in my environment.  My kids and my niece and nephew alsolove to laugh and truly value anyone with a good sense of humor....anyone that can make them laugh.  They each have their own brand of humor...but we are all wacky....and there aren't too many dull moments.

Laughter....the ability to laugh,  make others laugh and share laughter is truly a gift,  it enriches my life and the lives of those around me.  I value people's ability to laugh...at themselves, at life, to take a joke, to be silly, goofy, punchy and enjoy this life and the people in it while we have it.

"Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can; all of them make me laugh."

~  W. H. Auden

Heroes

Today I am thankful for heroes that show up to save the day.....that show up just in the nick of time to save you from peril or save your day from certain disaster.  I am thankful for the heroes that take the time to be there, who think of others before themselves, who answer calls for help....who save your day in little ways that mean so much.  I am thankful for the heroes, that by their deeds of goodness....breathe light and hope back into your soul and leave you with renewed belief....in love and friendship and the human race.


This photo is Cara's.  These are some of her friends from college days.  She has kept in touch with some of them...and I am very glad.  I didn't really know them all that well...I baked for them...and I earned a couple of facebook friends in the process...which is always a thrill for an old lady like me.  I am glad she kept in touch with them...because they are good people.....and leaving the world in their hands seems like a safe thing to do.

 I am especially glad, because last night, Cara was in a little situation...and two of these girls who happened to live in the city came to the rescue.  I am not going to go into the gory details, but suffice it to say, that Cara was stranded in the NYC  last night and she wasn't sure how she was going to get home until her friends came to her rescue.  They saved her life, relatively speaking, they saved me a trip to the city...which was going to have to be the next step.  Don't fear Cara wasn't in harm's way, but she did have a stressful situation on her hands.   Cara is relatively new to the metropolitan area, and she has met a couple of people here and there...but really doesn't have any good friends to call in case of emergency.  And this was an emergency.  Although Cara keeps in touch with these friends, they hadn't seen each other in months....but they still came to her rescue...and I am forever indebted.  They may not have been the kind of superhero that throws themselves in front of a speeding bullet...but they gave the help that was needed.  And they eased my worried mom's heart, and Cara made it home safe and sound last night.   And I will forever be indebted to them!!

Heroes are people who put someone else first for a few moments...and themselves second...and that is such an honorable and noble thing to do.  It is something we should all strive for...to try to be a hero in someone's life...someone's day.  There are heroes that save our days in little ways that can mean so much....a smile, a word of encouragement, a laugh.  Sometimes their very presence in your life just saves your day.  Oh there are grand and glorious gestures...feats of bravery.... and there are those who are continually swooping in and saving you from certain disaster.   We have been so lucky to have so many heroes in our life.  So many who have blown in to save our days...and save our souls.  Tonight I am giving thanks for each and every one.  I pray that I can pay it forward and accomplish all kinds of heroic acts....and maybe if I'm lucky, I can be their hero right back!!

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."

~ Joseph Campbell

Light

Today I am thankful for the light in my life and those who share it with me; a sunny sky, a glimmer of light in the darkness, the twinkle in an eye, a glowing smile, lightness of spirit, bright laughter.  I give thanks for the moon brightening up the night sky, dancing candlelight, a warm fire shared with friends, the light of understanding, the light of hope in a heart, the beauty shining from a soul and the warmth of love shared.


The end of daylight savings time is the worst day of the year for me.  Others may be looking for that lost hour of sleep...but I mourn the loss of the light.  I have come to some measure of peace with the dark months, I have found that they exist to slow you down, and encourage you to rest and relax for a little bit....to regain your strength for the rest of the year.

I am always searching for the light...and at this time of the year, I look for it in the hearts and smiles of the people that inhabit my days.  These sources of light...the light that come from within are always the brightest, always the warmest.   I pray that I can light the way for someone once in a while when they are feeling cold and  the way looks dark.  We must be the light to light each others way when all looks dark and bleak.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

In Remembrance

Today I am thankful for all those who have gone before and now no longer walk this earth, but are alive in my heart and memories.  I am thankful for the time we shared, for all they taught me, for the gift of themselves they shared with me, and for all the love they gave me.  I have been blessed by having them in my life.

As we celebrated All Saints Day, I thought about the people that have been dear to us that are no longer with us.  As I look at these pictures, they bring forth so many memories...so many emotions.  I say a prayer for them all....and think of the times we had together.

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die."

~ Thomas Campbell

Acceptance

Today I am thankful for the spirit of acceptance......recognizing that there are people very different from ourselves, recognizing that we often don't understand each other. recognizing that we all have a different history, we come from a different perspective.....and respecting people for who they are and loving them as fellow human beings......even though we may not love them and choose them as personal friends.


Many of you who follow me on facebook, experience with me some of the frustrations of raising a son.  I have raised two daughters...but this son of mine, this teenage boy...well he just confounds me.  I don't get where he is coming from.  The things he says, the things he does, his logic...the whole experience is just like dealing with an alien life form.

There are times when Alex is extremely difficult to deal with...and I find myself truly feeling Bill Cosby's words, "I brought you in this world, and I can take you out!"  I am often wondering to myself if we are both going to come out of this alive.  But, when all is said and done, and when he finally goes to sleep...on the rare occasion that his old mother doesn't pass out before he does....I look at that almost-man looking angelic face and I know, deep down.....deep, deep,deep,deep,deep down.....he has a good heart, he is a good person, and even though the every day seems futile sometimes...I know all is not lost.

Alex is not your typical sports kid.  He is more of a computer, fix it, build-it, video game, music, drama club kind of a guy.  He had a little trouble at first in middle school....a horrible place and time....to find his people.  He did it though, found his people, found his niche....and it certainly wasn't with the sports kids from the bus...but they had history together, and I think for the most part they have all come to accept each other and respect each other for their differences.....most days.

This year, Alex met a kid in lunch...who he shares so much in common with...and he has really loved getting to know this kid and exchanging info on all the stuff they are both interested in.  I've heard quite a bit about this kid, as well as some of the kids in their little group that I often hear about.

Many Fridays, Alex and I go visit my mom, where he takes piano lessons while I run around and do things that she is not able to do anymore, and then we go and visit my aunt...who is also alone...and we go visit with her.  I certainly could do this little errand by myself.  There is no need for me to drag Alex along...with the exception of the piano lessons, which he is often not prepared for anyway.  But I think it is important for Alex to realize the importance of family and being there for family in whatever way we can...even if it is just visiting for awhile.  It is a little bit of a car ride and I find it to be a nice time to connect...to sit and chat...instead of him running to a computer and me being annoyed that he isn't helping more.  This past Friday, in just such a car ride, he was once again talking about this new kid and some cool new video information.  Then he changed gears for a moment.  He said that he and this new kid are a lot alike in a lot of ways, they share a lot of interests in common.  But in one way, they are very different.  He began to talk about a different boy that he has known forever...who he has gone through grade school, scouts, the bus with...this boy is a little different, and to be honest, Alex gets annoyed by him...but I know by the stories he has told through the years...that Alex always has stood up for this boy when he was being bothered on the bus, and this boy seems to have respected Alex...because he will listen to Alex when no one else is getting through.  Alex was telling me how his new friend can't stand this boy that he's known forever, he has no tolerance for him....just hates him.   That is where the difference lies.  Because although Alex finds this boy to be annoying, he tries in his own Alex way, to show him the right way to act...but accepts him for who he is....and just can't bring himself to hate him or be mean to him....and in fact defends him.

And it's at moments like this....that I know all is not lost...inside this alien life form, beats a caring human heart.  It's at moments like this I feel like I must be doing something right.

There are people out there who are so different that we just can't understand who they are and where they come from.  We just simply don't understand their being..  We can find no common ground.  That's ok.  We don't have to hold hands and go through life side by side....that probably wouldn't end well.  But what we do have to do is accept who they are and love them as the fellow human they are.  They have as much a right to be here as you and I.  Accept. Respect.  Allow them to be who they are.....with love.

"The moment that judgement stops through acceptance of what it is, you are free of the mind.  You have made room for love, for joy, for peace."

~ Eckhart Tolle

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude

Today I am thankful for all the people whose paths have crossed mine.  Whether classmate, coworker, neighbor, mentor, family, friend...they have all impacted me in some way and contributed to who I am at this moment.  All of these people have been my role models.  I have watched and seen who I want to be, who I don't.  I am thankful for the lessons they have taught me, though some may have been painful...diversity, acceptance, the value in not judging a book by it's cover.  I am so grateful to those that have taught me that everyone has a story, a truth....and something worth sharing.

In November, it is my practice to post as my status each day, something that I am thankful for.  Today I posted the paragraph above.  I have always believed in giving thanks  for my blessings.  I have never hesitated to tell people that I care for them.  Life is short, and I have learned that if you don't grab your opportunities to show love now....they may not present themselves later.  In the beginning of the month, my daughter Cara shared a link on facebook that I just loved....and it got me thinking about being thankful....and thanking people.

Here is the link...I strongly urge you to pause here....and go spend the next 7 minutes or so watching it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHv6vTKD6lg

So I started thinking about how important the attitude of gratitude is.  I started thinking about all the wonderful people I am so fortunate to have in my life.  This November, in addition to writing something that I am thankful for on my facebook status and further talking about it here, I have decided to write a thank you letter each day to someone in my life.  I don't have it planned out.  I haven't thought about this much in advance...other than I am going to do it...that it is important to do it.   I am so grateful for so many people who have and do make a difference in my life.  Maybe they know how I feel, how grateful I am for their presence on the earth...but maybe they don't.  I think it's important to let them know.  30 days, 30 letters, 30 amazing people.   There are so many more amazing people in my life...but I will randomly write to whoever comes to mind.

I challenge you to all join me! It doesn't have to be a great literary work...maybe it will just be a short note, an email or facebook message, or maybe you will write it out the old fashioned way and send it snail mail.  The important thing is that you take a moment of each day to thank someone for all they have been to you.  Maybe it is a family member, that we tend to take for granted, an old friend that you have always been able to count on, a new friend, a neighbor, a coworker....maybe there is someone whom you admire and who has inspired you.....the possibilities are endless!!  Don't know how to start it?  Just tell them I twisted your arm.  Won't you join me??  I would love to know that I have some company in this little endeavor of mine...so if you want to leave me a message or a comment telling me you are  joining me, that would be great....but you don't have to.  You can do it quietly....but I urge you to take some time out of each day and let someone know that you just couldn't imagine this life without them in it.

" We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives."

~ John F. Kennedy