Saturday, November 1, 2014

Thanksgiving

As you begin to prepare for either your favorite (or least favorite) holiday, let's together see it as an opportunity to come together in peace and harmony. Besides the turkey and all the trimmings which only lasts a couple of days (if that) why not use that occasion to achieve what you never thought possible? You can begin by realizing every minute of every day is another moment in time given you to undo whatever you've convinced yourself is true about your brother/sister (aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, neighbor - need I continue?)

When you're able to understand your joy and misery come from within you and not an external factor is the minute your life will begin to change for the better. Did you know Thanksgiving Day is known to have a spike in visits to the emergency room? Besides real emergencies (accidents using sharp knives, burns, etc.) fatigue, stress, alcohol, domestic violence, etc., are also the reason for the spikes. It's no coincidence this happens. Whenever you set yourself up for the worst (whether consciously or not) you should also prepare yourself for when the worst comes. You then shouldn't be hurt, embarrassed, frustrated, angry or resentful, etc., because those feelings come when you're NOT prepared for what you want. Who in their right mind would choose the worst of anything?

Please do not confuse "preparing for a rainy day" with "getting ready for the drama." Those are two entirely different things. One keeps you on the right track as you carry on with your day while the other throws you completely off track leaving you in a state of confusion. How could you be left confused when it's drama you're expecting? By inviting it in but forgetting all of what drama brings along with it! Drama never comes and goes quickly AND quietly. It may come quickly but the damage is like that of a tornado! It may also come quietly (like a thief in the night) but stay with you for long periods of time in forms of resentment, unforgiveness, disappointment over what you say you wanted but what was given you instead.

You suffer because you forgot that accepting drama as your guest will never leave you anything but pain as its souvenir. Here is the good news of which you also forgot. You are also both the giver and receiver of peace. You'll get it the minute you see every snide remark, every side glance, every unanswered question, every impolite gesture, etc., as the perfect opportunity to see them for what they are - a cry for help!

Only when you're able to see them as such and not a personal attack on you is when peace is allowed to replace drama - get this, its souvenir is healing, comfort, understanding, respect, joy, kindness, patience, trust, forgiveness, etc. Who in their right mind wouldn't choose peace over drama? The answer is its only in your right mind that peace is invited anywhere. It's only in the state of peace that you'll see all there is to be thankful for. So as you tear into the turkey (or roasted vegetables for my fellow vegetarians) please remember it takes but a moment to check your guest list and make sure  your guests are invited to take part and share in all there is to be thankful for.

Because peace on earth is definitely something to be thankful for don't you think?


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