Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving weekend is dwindling. There are only a few hours remaining of what was a lovely time spent with good friends, good food, lots of laughter, and lovely children. It isn't as if those things don't go on in my life anyway, they do. However, this weekend was minimal work and maximum enjoyment and reflection.

I am so grateful for the abundance in my life. Friends, family, fun things to do, interesting things to see, and so much luxury. I'm not a financially wealthy person, but if my wealth is measured by these other things, I am one of the richest people on the face of the earth.

November draws to a close. I didn't write the Great American Novel this month, but I did start this blog. I was fired from a job, creating new opportunities. I did not get a job I really wanted, but upon reflection, I need to spend some time in reflection. It is good I didn't launch into a new full time job just now. I worked hard, teaching, organizing, doing and wrapping up my (almost) former job, struggling with my health, questioning some relationships. November was busy. And intense.

This weekend began a time of reflection for me. I plan to spend the month of December working enough to support us, myself and my children, writing as much as possible on this blog, and reflecting. I've faced challenges my whole life. All of us have to one degree or another. This weekend I am clear that it is time to reflect and see where my focus needs to be.

It seems that for the last few years, my focus has been on whatever fire is burning brightest right in front of me. I'm ready to be proactive again. I will be able to keep the fires at bay with the flow of consciousness that is beginning to form in my mind. Consciousness provides clarity and focus. What are my biggest obstacles? Fatigue, doubt, and fear. (Thanks, Suzanne!) Somehow, stating them makes them seem like smaller obstacles. Except for the fatigue.

So, as the winter solstice approaches, I'm going to use the long winter nights to do some reflecting, some focusing of my efforts, some mindfulness, and spend some time with my gratitude for all the wonderful people and things that flow through my life every day.

More Than a Stream of Consciousness

This week, I had the opportunity to hear Scott Harrison speak. He is the founder of charity: water. I have, at various times in my life, wanted to work on clean water initiatives. The statistics are staggering. There are over a billion people in the world who don't have access to clean water. Their drinking water is unsafe. The very thing needed to sustain life, can end life instead. Women and children are not educated, because they can't go to school. Fetching the day's water for the family takes too much time. Walking miles with heavy containers, quite literally, breaks the spines of these people.

However, this is not the focus of this post.

It has been frustrating to me that every time I think that I am really going to do something, besides donate a little money, to be involved in clean water efforts, something in my life interrupts me, and stops the flow of energy, of passion, my need to leave the world better somehow than it was when I arrived.

Cancer, bad health, dishonest husband, bankruptcy, moving, divorce, being a single mom of 4 children, transitioning from home schooling to having all my children in school--life's bumps in the road. However, it was the latest blip than made me feel the need to take stock of things, and to finally pursue some things I have been wanting to do.

So, now the point of this post. (And you thought from the title this was going to be more than a stream of consciousness!) I have been talking about writing forever. However, successful writers all have one thing in common. They write. I'm done talking, I'm writing. I'm not quite sure how this will take shape, but I have a lot I want to share, so this will be a journey of discovery for me, and hopefully some entertainment for you, my readers.

Welcome, as we together navigate the babbling brook, or rushing river, that is life.