Thanks Giving

"When you arise in the morning give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks the fault likes in yourself."

- Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

Today I give thanks for:
My loving husband, his partnership and his humor.
My amazing children, their wonder and authenticity.
My family, their unconditional love and everything they have taught me.
The Muses, their inspiration and acceptance.
Yoga, it's benefits of health and opening my mind to many more things.
My body, for all that it is capable of and for being not flawless, but whole.
Nature, for teaching me and feeding me (in more ways than one).
Money, not a weapon but a tool.
And for all the things that I have resisted and disliked and feared, for they have taught me the most.

A million dollars

Lately every time I turn on the radio I hear the song, "If I had a Million Dollars" by the Bare Naked Ladies. hmmm, I'm sensing a theme.

The song says, "If I had a million dollars...
I'd buy you a house
I'd build a tree fort in your yard
We'd take a limousine
I'd buy you some art
I'd buy you a green dress (but not a real green dress, cuz that's cruel)

What would I do if I had a million dollars?
I'd buy a new computer
Redesign and streamline my office
Get some new clothes
Donate lots of money
Jump start our new company Muselan with an influx of funds
Take my kids to Disney World
Get a massage every week

What would you do if you had a million dollars?

Be BIG with me

"All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All love life.
See yourself in others.
Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?"
- Buddha

The recent election has done a lot of things. It excited and inspired many with feelings of renewal and hope. It has saddened and hurt others that their candidate lost. For many, a sense of let down and what next?. For most a sense of change and anticipation of something different.
What I didn't expect is that in this day and age and time that so many still have so far to go.
What I didn't expect is that there are people in my circle of family and friends that are blatant racists and bigots. For that I am sorely disappointed.

Speaking to them: Frankly, I am a little confused. When you personally know people of another race or heritage and claim to be their friends, does that mean you think it's OK to make racist jokes? Do you think the other person will think it's funny? I am a woman and you claim to be my friend. Does that mean you make sexist jokes when I'm not around? Don't you think that would hurt me, too?

Speaking to everyone: Now is not the time for petty differences. In case you hadn't noticed, the world is changing. It may change for the better or it may change for the worst. It all depends on how many of us can decide we want to be better humans and that being a kinder, nicer, more compassionate human is all that matters. We must be bigger than our differences in order to survive. As the saying goes, "Grow, or die". If you are not growing and changing and evolving, you are in essence going in the reverse. You are dying.
I want for everyone the same things I want for myself. Food, clothing, shelter, security, and most of all love. If what you give out to the world is petty and demeaning and hurtful, that is what you will receive in return. Don't be surprised. If you want wonderful things, then that is what you must give away. Being racist or telling racist jokes keeps you small. I'm sure you want a big, glorious, joyful, happy life, right? Then do things that are big. Do things that are glorious. Do things that bring you joy and happiness. Stop being small, start being BIG.

Speaking for myself: I am living my bigger life and it gets bigger everyday. This is truly the miracle of life! One of the challenging things about that is that sometimes I have to leave parts of my smaller life behind. I am strong enough to stand up for what I believe in. I am also strong enough to tell others that their so-called "jokes" are not funny. I am strong enough to tell others that I won't listen to lies. I am strong enough to say I don't want negativity in my life anymore. As my life gets bigger and better (and, dear reader, hopefully yours too!) I try to impact others by my actions. I want to be the light. Sometimes this means teaching, sometimes this means being accepting and loving, sometimes this means separating myself from others.

Remember, we are either growing or we're dying. Which would you rather be?

Excitement and Enthusiasm

I'm brimming with excitement today. I stayed up way too late and that would normally bring my energy down. I'm still so happy and excited that my lack of sleep can't keep me down.
I've been focusing on the positive, choosing to stay away from energy draining negative news and ads and discussions. I've held a picture in my mind of what I want in our country and for our people and the people of the whole world.
For awhile I avoided discussion of politics until about a month ago when we put a sign in our yard. Then a sticker on my care and a magnet on my husband's. While neither of the candidates mirrored all my beliefs and ideals, there was one that suited me more than the other. It does not mean one is bad and one is good. It was a matter of preference.
I determined that my choices, especially on these topics, don't need to be hidden. Why are we so afraid of saying "I am voting for ___" or "I support ___"? That just tells me we are all still afraid. Of what? Not being liked? Not being popular? Of an argument?
When I think about it, I don't really know which candidate many of my neighbors and friends supported. That's too bad. I wouldn't love them any less if their views didn't match mine. Isn't that what people are all about?
I respect people who can be honest and have open discussions about their views and beliefs in an atmosphere that is without judgment. I respect people who voted for John McCain. I respect people who are passionate about their beliefs. Let's just keep it positive. Negative discourse doesn't really help anyone, does it?
Now that the decision is made, let's all move forward moment by moment. Last week I felt good. Yesterday I felt good. Today I felt good. Tomorrow I want to feel good too. How about you?

YES, we CAN!

Barack Obama Hope Sticker
Originally uploaded by PEEL

Halloween

Can you guess what we are?
I'll give you a hint. The milkman did it.


The kids and their pumpkins. Scary, huh?

Bear down, Chicago Bears! Originally Super Salad wanted to be Godzilla, then a mummy. Freight Train wanted to be a recycling man. Because he already was a garbage man last Halloween and the recycling guy is totally different, ya know? We talked them both into being Chicago Bears football players with some cool helmets that they wear all the time.

About the only thing little miss kitty was agreeable to was being a kitty. Oh, and eating candy. Otherwise everything else was "NO".

And a new office

My office no longer fits. It doesn't fit my stuff. It doesn't fit my mental state. And as I've been reminded, it doesn't fit my bigger life. It's got to go.

Here's the plan:
a. "before" picture
b. measurements
c. IKEA bookshelves, baskets
d. craigs list and ebay (sell, sell, sell)
e. reduce, reuse, recycle
f. move and rearrange
g. with a little help from my friends
f. new MacBook
g. reading, writing, computing, rock'n'rollin!
oh, and a great "after" photo

Clear the clutter, change your life!