1 post tagged “thanksgiving”

Thanksgiving.

Giving of thanks. For me…this happens less on the prescribed day and more a little over each and every day. I've been graced with enough turmoil and tragedy in my life that I see beauty and benefit in the little things. Having enough. Being able to take care of my child and enjoy…truly enjoy being with her. The time I spend with her is my version of heaven! Sure, she and I get on each others nerves from time to time…I'm sure that is true of all close people. But every time I look at her with active, open eyes I am overjoyed. Sometimes it is the thought of her growing up and realizing that some day my mothering job will go from full-time to part-time and I realize how much I'll miss these days. So, I make sure I realize how magickal it is to parent a little being from just a bean to a full-grown stalk.

I give thanks for the two kittens who have found their way into our house and for the privilege of taking care of them. They are wild and full of chaos and the wreck the house on a daily basis and I swear I've never emptied the litter-box quite as much as I have these past two months. I'm thankful for my cat familiar, Griffin, who turns ten this year. I remember when he was a chaos-kitten, fitting into the palm of my hand. Now his head is bigger than that. He's not really a cat, as anyone who has met him can attest. He has seven toes on his front feet, six on each back foot. He will fetch little poof-balls and tends to be a mother hen to the new little ones. He holds them down and licks them clean. At night he stands watch no the pillow next to me, making sure my house is safe and secure.

I give thanks to my mom, who recently has come around to helping me some when someone in my family is sick. She's been very supportive of my efforts and less judgmental in my being just a little left of center. And I think she's finally gotten past thinking that my wearing of black is a phase that I'll grow out of.

For friends who have been there, through thick and thin and who know that my trials are just a part of my Path. Those who feel confident that no matter how far away…how long I stay, whatever words I say…that I will always love you.

I'm thankful that no one can hold anything against me because I've done my time in Hell and clawed my bloody way back, hand over mother fucking hand. And I've tempered the steel and burned away the dross. I am what I am and I'm clean and pure. And I pity the fool who tries to test that with me.

I'm thankful for my dharma teacher and my studies. I'm thankful that I've learned that loving-kindness and compassion are two wings on the bird. More of one and less of the other will not serve that bird well. Equal amounts are needed. I'm thankful for Metta and I'm very thankful for Tonglen for showing me that I can feel the ugly and overwhelming feelings and they have no need to "make" me respond at all, or in any negative fashion. I'm thankful for learning that ugly people will be ugly and selfish people will be selfish and why would I ever think otherwise. I can include those ugly and selfish people, who strike and emotional chord in me, in my Metta practice and ask that they get what they need and that they be free from suffering and that they….A W A K E N.

I'm thankful that my awakening has begun. I'm thankful that it is continuing. I'm thankful that I'm mindful of the gifts that I'm experiencing as a result of being awake.

Thank you for being you. Who ever you are.