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GIVING THANKS Once again, we have returned to my favorite time of the year, the Thanksgiving and holiday season. If I were President of our beloved country (and thank goodness for all of us I'm not), I think the first thing that I would use my executive privilege for would be to make Thanksgiving a monthly holiday--or maybe even make it a bi-monthly event. No, maybe what would be best for our country is to make Thanksgiving a daily required activity. Not because of my penchant for pumpkin pie, although, that may have a very heavy subconscious influence on my idea, but, more so, because in these trying times, the only way we will survive what we lose with grace, is to appreciate what we still have, even if what we have feels like not enough. Like almost all of us these days, I have had a challenging year with financial setbacks and a few stubborn health issues. Sometimes these things can start to overwhelm me. And it seems like the resolutions are taking their good old time coming. What saves me from the perils of antidepressants and nervous breakdowns is remembering what I do have in great abundance in my life. Remembering that I have a family, who is there for me when I need them the most, even if we don't always agree on everyday issues. Remembering that I have friends, who see me as someone more special than I usually see myself, and who let me spill my frustrations all over their kitchen counters or sofas, when I really need to. Remembering that I have the ability to laugh at life's unnecessary complexities and the ability to forgive whomever has harmed me that both lift life's burdens from my shoulders and heal my body and soul. Remembering that there are so many others out there who need my help. Today, I encourage you to make a list of the things you have in your life that matter the most. Not the material things like the latest gadget or fashion accessory or raise at work that are more egocentric in nature, but the more important things that touch us on the soul level, like a kind word from a child who never shows affection to you, or a thank you from the partner who usually takes you for granted, or a cooked meal from a neighbor when you were sick, or a phone call from that friend just when you needed it the most. Then take that list, flip it around, and do everything on it to someone else.
posted by Jodi at 1:18 PM
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SACRIFICE means changing priorities I don't think I am too far off in generalizing that many people today view sacrifice as a very negative word. We cringe at the idea of having to give up something that we value. But certain times in life call for sacrifice. The question is are we giving up something of value or just replacing it with an opportunity to value something new? Most of the sacrifices we face fall extremely short from the ultimate sacrifice of giving up our life for others. Those that perform that unbelievably unselfish act already get the reasons for doing it. Many of us are not aware of the benefits and grace that comes from looking past ourselves or what we perceive are our most urgent needs. The SIMPLE TRUTH is that sacrifice is the act of changing our priorities in life. We can change our priorities from buying unnecessary items for ourselves into giving necessary items to those in real need. We can change our priorities from spending time working late at the office into spending time with our kids or volunteering in our community. We can change our priorities from bigger and wasteful living into simpler and waste-free living. We can change our "what's in it for me" attitudes to what's best for the good of all. We don't have to give everything up, as many people fear would be the case, but we cannot leave our personal or national troubles to a few individuals or government to clean up. And we cannot expect other people from other countries to make all of the sacrifices, when we have more than most people in the world, and we have benefited the most from the hard labor of those in less fortunate situations. If we incorporate a little sacrifice into our lives, we may just find that we've lost nothing compared to the fulfillment and self-realization that we gain.
posted by Jodi at 6:20 PM
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FINDING PEACE in troubled times When life's challenges become overwhelming, how do we find peace? When we see the level of violence and war spread all over the world, how do we feel peace? When we are confronted with injustices, how can we be peace? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to these realities, but I do believe that peace is achievable in all circumstances. I have recently learned that my mom has cancer. We are in the early stages of discovering just what that means for her and for my family. The news did not come as a shock to me. As soon as I heard of her unusual symptoms, a little voice inside began to prepare me. I believe the source of this voice comes from a center of peace within me. My mother reacted to the news with grace and it is her strength and her peace about this situation that helped ease my sadness and brought me to a place of peace also. "It is what it is," she told me, and her acceptance and my silent acceptance is one of the paths to peace in such an overwhelming situation. Although the nightly news here in the U.S. has been overtaken by the important presidential election, violence, wars, starvation, fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes are devastating parts of the world. With the enormous tension of a politically-divided country and our own financial crisis, hearing the plight of the rest of the world, and even our neighbors, feels like too much to absorb. But we can come to a place of feeling peace amidst these challenging circumstances, by remembering that everything can change if we believe in peace. We can feel peace by extending our own hands to help others. We need to keep giving to those who need it the most, knowing their needs are even greater now. Action and service is another path to peace. We can confront violence and injustices by continuing to work for peace. We can lead by example and hold tight in our hearts the belief that a brighter day is already here. Becoming a peaceful person is probably the most important path to achieving peace for the whole world. The SIMPLE TRUTH is that peace resides in the core of each person and works differently in each struggle or tragedy we face. Understanding that we come from a place of peace to start with helps us find the strength to remain calm and maintain balance on the rough seas. Darshan would love to hear your stories of how you have found peace in trying times.
posted by Jodi at 7:16 PM
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