In the midst of the political rhetoric/reality/anxiety in many parts of the word, tomorrow our American neighbours are marking their Thanksgiving – a time and opportunity to express “giving thanks – thanksgiving.”
But these days, many struggle to find something – anything – for which they are thankful. Health issues, financial concerns, weather disruptions, faltering relationships, the political reality and forecasts … it’s not easy.
But when I remember that “thanksgiving” is an “attitude” not a feeling, I find it helps me look beyond and focus on an attitude change – a Gratitude Attitude.
Making a Gratitude Attitude a habit. helps me extend my focus and be open to an attitude of hope even when things may appear to be hopeless.
How to have a Gratitude Attitude? How about being grateful for you?
Seriously … beginning with gratitude for ourselves is a great way to begin a Gratitude Attitude.
Here’s one way to cultivate this habit … each morning, as you stand in front of the mirror, ready to brush your teeth, look in the mirror (hair likely uncombed, no make-up, haven’t yet shaved, grunge still in the eyes) … think or say “Thank you Universe/God … for the gift of creation … me!” Look into the mirror again and see the Gift of Creation – you!
At night, after brushing your teeth, after removing your makeup say/think it again: “Thank you, Universe / God, for the gift of creation – me.” Look in the mirror again, and see the Gift of Creation – you! đ
Simple acts like keeping a gratitude journal, a Gratitude Box/Jar (more about that in a few days as the Season called Advent begins) … sharing words of appreciation … volunteering and an Attitude of Gratitude can cultivate a long-lasting sense of thankfulness even in a world that can often feel overwhelming.
Having an Attitude of Gratitude grounds us and reminds us of the good that surrounds us. For good does surround us.
So, this Thanksgiving, whether American and celebrating Thanksgiving as a holiday, or another nationality, may we all have an Attitude of Gratitude and “give thanks” – “live thanks” for carrying a Thanksgiving Spirit – having a Gratitude Attitude into every day can help transform the way we see the world – perhaps only just for a moment, or only just for a little bit … but it does work. đ
Time to process what has just happened in the United States … and really, what has happened that will affect the world.
So, I took a little walk around the yard, enjoying Mother Nature breathing in life, ruach, praying, healing.
The mushrooms that keep popping up in the yard may have a short life, but each day, through them, Mother Nature provides such wonderful colour, texture, shape, peace.
And a gentle feeling of hope begins to slowly surface.
The mushrooms make their way through the earth year after year after year, in spite of winter weather, summer heat, fall and spring rain.
So too will humanity.
Thank you, Mother Nature, for your everpresent reminder that “All shall be well. All shall be well. All manner of thing shall be well.” (Dame Julian who reminds us that even though things may not be well, in time, they “shall be.”)
Reach for the sun, mushrooms. Reach for the sky. Keep on growing and surviving in spite of the elements of Nature.
It rests in the lies he told; the crimes he committed; the supporters who blindly followed and follow; the team around him who have planned and will carry out Project 2025.
I cannot – must not …
We cannot – must not … allow it to consume our light.
Gentle cyberhug is on its way to all who are confused, who are angry, who grieve.
May the light … even if only just a flicker … never go out.
And if it goes out, may another stand with us as a reminder that “we are not alone.” Together, the light remains lit.
May we be gentle with ourselves – and one another.
Today is ‘Dia de Los Muertos’ – ‘Day of the Dead – November 2nd, every year. The first time I learned about Day of the Dead was the Disney movie “Coco” and as a result, I wanted to learn more about the Mexican holiday known as Dia de Los Muertos.
On November 2nd, ‘literary calaveras’ (satirical poems in which the poet writes about ‘Death’ taking someone to the land of the dead) are shared; altars (ofrenda) are made to remember someone who has died; and families visit the grave of loved ones, sometimes bringing a sugar skull to leave on the gravesite.
“Bringing a sugar skull to leave on the graveside?” What’s that all about? While I enjoy walking through cemeteries, am not afraid of death, or uncomfortable being with people who are dying, but somehow, the thought of creating a skull and bringing it to leave on a gravestone, (until I began to research Dias de Los Muertos), was a difficult concept to comprehend. Clearly it was time for me to do some more research.
I learned that the tradition goes back to prehistoric times when people believed in a spiritual life after death and made an offering to the god of the underworld (Mictlantechutli) who was expected to guarantee safe passage to his world. Interesting! More research needed … and doing that, I learned that at that time, brightly coloured sugar skulls were part of the offering to Mictlantechutli, but, when Spanish conquerers arrived (all offering except for the colourful skull made of a sweet confection which was often placed in home altars as part of the offering to the deceased) were lost.
Then, in more recent times in Mexico, Dia de Los Muertos became a holiday – a holiday around death – and a very, very colourful one at that!
While I have no Mexican ancestry, I have never liked the idea of wearing black as a sign of mourning. Rather, I like the idea of celebrating … remembering the deceased with joy … wearing anything-but-black to funerals because for me, when family and friends have died, they are never entirely ‘gone’ … I keep them alive in my heart and in my memories.
I have a strong belief that I’ll re-connect with loved ones again … in some way. Not in a way I can explain – but ‘some way.’
Is that a certainty? No. It’s not a certainty, because no one can prove that such a re-connection can or will happen. But … is it possible? Why not!
I’m a “possibility-thinker.” And until scientifically proven otherwise, I am going to continue to believe that when I die, in some form, in some way, loved ones and I will re-connect.
And in the meantime, time to celebrate (albeit belatedly), Dia de Los Muertos and remember my parents, my siblings, my husband, my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends who have all departed this life. It is a special day to remember them with joy, celebration, and colour … and create a sugar skull: artistic representation of calavera (skull) piece of art.
Thanks to Mexican culture for teaching me about this unique “Day of the Dead.”
I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen them. November 2nd and there they were … four strawberries in the strawberry planter on my deck, this morning!
We’ve already had our first snowfall yet, they survived the snow and the cold and the rain and there’s another berry “on its way” to full strawberryhood. <g>
So if you’ve had a difficult day … if the rains are causing your arthritis to flare … if traffic was frustrating … if the news brings despair … if the future looks bleak let these strawberries … give you a sweet surprise … put a smile on your face even if only for a second or two.
  · in the midst of tears light raindrops on flower petals reveal beauty something about which one can be grateful if so in the midst of personal tears what are you grateful for today if so in the midst of political tears what can we be grateful for today if so in the wider scheme of life what can humanity be grateful for today name them name them out loud name them by writing name them so they will never be forgotten even in the midst of tears
Have a look through the peekhole … what is on the other side, if the head of the ultra-conservative very radical-sounding Heritage Foundation and architect of Project 2025, Kevin Roberts, has his way, is devastating. He stated: “We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.â
WHAAAT?
American lawyer Joyce Alene Vance who served as the United States attorney for the Northern District of Alabama (2009 – 2017) has written an intro to Project 2025’s ideology starting on page 34) and says “Heâs (Kevin Roberts) talking about using violence if the majority of American voters donât agree with his vision for our country. Heâs endorsing another January 6, a bloodletting if liberals wonât cave into his view of how the country should be run. If the left wonât âallowâ him to have his way, heâs going to make us give in. Thatâs the man behind Project 2025.”
Please, look through the peekhole – learn about Project 2025 … share what you learn about the Project (which, btw, has already begun) on social media … recognize that this isn’t “pie in the sky” it is as real as were the warnings in Germany in the 1930’s. https://www.project2025.org/about/about-project-2025/https://www.project2025.org/
There is only one way to stop Project 2025 and that is to exercise the right to vote – ignore the hype about the candidates – ignore the rhetoric about what Trump promises – just don’t ignore what undergirds Trump or what undergirds the Kevin Roberts’ of this world.
Today Americans mark their independence from a monarchy. Kevin Roberts is trying to re-create the monarchy.
Remember Roberts’ words: “We are in the process of the second American Revolution”. Not “going to be”. It’s begun. But it can be stopped by one simple act … voting blue – voting the Biden/Harris ticket – choosing democracy not fascism.
Btw, here’s a list of some of the actual things on the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 list:
It’s real. Its implementation has already begun. Read – digest – and recognize where/how you/your loved ones will be affected. No one will *not* be affected.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision took the United States back to July 3, 1776, the day BEFORE the Declaration of Independence. That SCOTUS decision gave Americans the thing that caused them to break away from England – away from a a president-king whoâs above the law.
Peek through peep-hole and learn about the depth of the plan of Project 2025. It is not good. It is anything but good. If it succeeds, it will mean the end of democracy. Don’t let that happen – exercise your right to vote and vote for democracy: blue.
Quote: “Happily may I walk. Happily with abundant dark clouds may I walk. Happily with abundant showers, may I walk. Happily with abundant plants, may I walk. Happily on a trail of pollen, may I walk. With beauty before me, may I walk. With beauty behind me, may I walk. With beauty above me, may I walk. With beauty below me, may I walk. With beauty all around me, may I walk. Wandering on a trail of beauty, lively I walk.
Author: Navajo chant
Soul-Questions
1. What moments in your life have you experienced – “abundant dark clouds” – “abundant showers” – “abundant plants” – “a trail of pollen”
2. How can you “happily” walk, regardless of outdoor weather conditions, your own inner emotional state, the global political angst?
2. What questions have been more important to you than the answers?
3. Consider your understanding of walking and the Navajo understanding. Is there a difference? If so, what?
4. What might prevent you from walking Navajo-style in your life?
5. What is your understanding of ‘beauty’?
6. What do you understand to be the Navajo chat understanding of ‘beauty’?
7. When you go for a walk, reflect on the ‘beauty’ you see “before me”, “behind me”, “above me”, “below me.”
In your journal, reflect on the above questions and how you might move beyond whatever blocked you in those circumstances.
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How to use âSoulistry Soul-Questionsâ You may want to begin a Journal so your responses are all in one place. Write the quotation. Add the first question and write your response.Â
Take your time in writing your replies. This is your time. These are your answers.Â
Then at your leisure, add the second Soul-Question and respond and continue on. Btw, it helps to put the date after each Soul-Question response.
The âSoul-Questionsâ group on Facebook can be found www.facebook.com/groups/soulquestions
The âSoul-Questionsâ website can be found at https://soulistry.com/soul-questions-blog-posts
