I generally do not follow the news. I have a news feed that I read that keeps me up to date on coronavirus, weather, and scientific discoveries. I have found reading the news disrupts my sleep less and my husband will fill me in on any other pertinent information. And that was fine, until recently. 

The war going on against Ukraine right now is an assault on humanity. I have been keeping up to date as much as my psyche can allow. I find myself fearful and in tear and then angry and ready to fight. I do not have loved ones there. But I have fellow humans there. 

Today I just want to take a moment to remind us all to pause and be grateful for what we have. There are so many tiny blessings that get overlooked in the day to day. Here are some of the things I am grateful for, though it is far from a complete list written here.

I'm grateful for a roof over my head. I'm grateful to feel safe in my home. I'm grateful the distant booms and noise is from the construction of progress and not war. I'm grateful to be able to tuck my children in at night to sleep peacefully. I'm grateful they do not know the terror of war. I'm grateful to sit in my own space with access to internet. I'm grateful to trust in my liberties and those that protect them. I'm grateful for fresh water and plenty of food. I'm grateful to be able to sit with lights on and windows open. I'm grateful to be able to call my family at the touch of a button and know they are nearby. I'm grateful to give what I can and do what I can to help in whatever small way I can for those who are fleeing for their lives right now. I'm grateful to not know that feeling firsthand. I'm grateful to everyone out there who is making a stand and doing what they can to help the Ukrainian people.

What are you grateful for today? What have you been taking for granted? What can you do to help those who do not have what you have?

May today be a strong reminder to be grateful for what we have. May we do everything we can to support and protect those who need help. Have a beautiful day!

This Winter seems to be enjoying sending curve balls. Mostly we have been having a very mild winter here with little precipitation. It got so warm last week that the Spring flowers in my garden started coming up! 

Tonight, we are supposed to get a good size snowstorm. After watching the squirrels out playing and frolicking the last week it seems strange that they will have to go back into their warm nests to wait out the storm. While I'm sure they are used to crazy Midwest weather and probably have plenty of food stores tucked away, my husband decided to boost their stash a little. 

He placed some walnuts out for them and after a while one of our squirrel friends came for a nibble. He gobbled up all but one and we didn't see who came back later for the last one. 

As a human, a white human, I am starkly aware of all the taking and greed in our history. We moved in and took land from people and animals. We made a habit of thinking things that were different were somehow "less".

I can't say I have all the answers to turn it around and start repairing what was taken. But every little effort we give moves us in the right direction. Whether it be helping out some wildlife when food and land is scarce, donating food and blankets to the shelter for those going through hard times, or having the difficult conversations on how to truly respect and love each other; every step forward matters. What steps can you take today? Who do you know that could use a little help? How can you recognize and shift one false belief you hold? 

I'm grateful for my generous husband. I'm grateful to see the sweet little squirrel happy to nibble his food. I'm grateful for our neighborhood holding a Winter clothing drive for the homeless. I'm grateful to all who participated. I'm grateful to try and keep extra blankets and snacks in my car in case I see someone in need. I'm grateful to be really digging through beliefs, this month especially, to find hidden racism and weed it out of my thoughts and actions. I'm grateful to be open with my children so they can grow from my mistakes and those of our ancestors. I'm grateful to know we can make this world a better place.

May today and every day bring us closer to that better world we have dreamed of for so long. May today be full of generosity, love, and understanding. Have a beautiful day!

I love helping! I love feeling like I am making a positive impact on the world, or at least one person's day, every day. So when I got a text from a colleague today with a simple dilemma I could easily solve, I jumped at the opportunity.

It was so nice to see my kids eager to help too as they rushed to get their shoes on. It warmed my heart to see their joy at getting to be helpers to someone other than me or their dad. 

We are wired to help. We are driven to find a purpose. And study ofter study has shown that even doing small good deeds for others increases our mood and joy. 

So let's get helping! There is no shortage of people in need between the pandemic, fires, heat waves, evictions and the normal everyday plot twists that can come out of nowhere. Reach out in your area. See what the local shelter needs. Call the nearest church, whether you attend or not, and ask if they have any outreach projects going on and what they need. Listen to the news or reach out to the Red Cross and see what supplies are needed for the various natural disasters. 

The first step may seem scary. What if they ask for something you cannot give? What if it takes more time than you have to give? If you worry about being able to set boundaries then write down what dollar amount or amount of time you feel you could contribute. If they ask for something beyond that, simply say "this is what I CAN offer." I guarantee they will be grateful for whatever it is you're offering. And you will feel the joy of helping.

I'm grateful to get to help today. I'm grateful for something as simple as batteries that I can fix. I'm grateful to know a building has air conditioning against the heat of the day all from this small task. I'm grateful to take my two little helpers along. I'm grateful for their eagerness to help. I'm grateful for wonderful friends and clients that serve our community in powerful ways and tell me what they need so I can see if I can meet those needs. 

How can you help? How can you give yourself the gift of this joy?

May today remind us that we are all on one Earth together. May we help each other up and know someone would do the same if we need. Have a beautiful day!

We ask for peace on Earth, but where does that start? How do we get there? I think there are several key elements to everyone being able to feel peace.

The first would be respect. Respecting each other, no matter how different, is a key element to peace. There is little to fight over if we take a moment to be respectful of each other's beliefs, feelings, and world view. 

Elements like compassion and listening come into play as part of respect. You can't respect someone while telling them to hide who they are. We have to find a way to honor each person even when we cannot understand their perspective. 

Taking compassion further; we can offer generosity. If we see someone in need and we have anything to offer that is a very real way to make the world better. It may be one small act but if we all do these small acts, it makes big change.

There are a lot of things we can change to start moving toward a more peaceful, loving world. These are just a couple elements that come to mind. But it isn't all about everyone else, either. It begins with each one of us. It begins with us being able to give ourselves respect and compassion. 

If I am giving compassion to everyone else while constantly berating myself, I am denying myself a space in that peaceful world. And can we truly offer compassion and non-judgment if we cannot even give ourselves that grace? 

What can you do today to give yourself some compassion? How can you show someone you don't know respect today? How can we learn to listen, not to the tantrum but to the pain behind it, so we can offer compassion and understanding instead of reactivity?

I'm grateful to recognize places where I can grow. I'm grateful to listen to how I address myself versus others. I'm grateful to believe we can move toward a peaceful world. I'm grateful to see the power of small acts and the ripple they make. I'm grateful to take a deep breath and offer myself some of the compassion I try to extend to others. I'm grateful for a moment to sit quietly and reflect.

May today remind us of common goals and common ground. May we make it our mission to give respect and compassion to every soul we meet. Have a beautiful day!

Today is Memorial Day, a day to honor those who gave their life in service. I will admit, for myself, it is a day to reflect on all those I love that have passed away. I do not mean to belittle in any way the amazing sacrifice those in service have given. For me it is more an acknowledgement that people can make an impact on the lives of others in many different ways.

I think about the people like Martin Luther King Jr. who gave his life for a cause we are still fighting. I think about George Floyd whose life was taken and ignited the century old battle back to the spotlight for change. I wish that we lived in a world where it didn't take death, tragedy, and murder for human rights to be recognized. I hope that we will not need to lose any more lives to this war. But on this day I give my respects to all who have lost their life for this cause.

I think about Dominique Lucious and Chyna Carrillo. Unlike Floyd they received little press time and yet lost their lives just for being themselves. There are so many in the LGBT community that have been targeted only for being exactly who they were created to be. It is a quiet war that often goes without acknowledgement. On this day I would like to acknowledge their tragic sacrifice.  I hope, again, that no more lives need be taken to stop this war and accept people for who they are. 

I think about the homeless that have passed. I think about the children that have lost their lives in unfit conditions. I think about all the people who had to lose their life in order to spark change. And yes, military is one demographic of that. But to me, this day is to honor all who gave their lives in a way that hopefully makes the world recognize a problem and make changes.

I'm saddened for lives lost. I'm saddened for those who did not get to witness the effect they had on the world. I'm saddened for the loved ones that are left to fight that battle while carrying that pain. But I hold hope that change can be made.

I'm grateful for the small steps of progress we have made. I'm grateful for those pushing to make big changes NOW so we don't have to continue the war for civil rights another decade. I'm grateful for those who march. I'm grateful for those who put up flags. I'm grateful for those who speak up and for those who remember. I'm grateful to keep the conversation alive until change is truly made. I'm grateful for a day to make me remember, no matter how uncomfortable it is so that I do not become just another white person with my head in the sand. I'm grateful to do my best to remember every day, as many people as I can, and work towards a better world for all.

Who do you remember? What determines which wars count? How do you define "dying in service"? 

May those of us blessed to spend today with the ones we love recognize how special that is. May we not let it distract us from remembering those who need remembered, who need spoke of, and who need us to keep pushing for change. Have a beautiful day.

Isn't it strange how one word can mean so many different things? The word "brave", for instance, means something different depending on who you ask. Sometimes it even means something different depending on the context it is used. 

My daughter was brave today. She faced one of her greatest four-year-old fears, going to the dentist. The new dentist made all the difference and she had a great experience this time. She bounced out the door feeling happy and brave. 

Brave can be facing something scary and trying anyway. Brave can be taking a risk, like a new job or moving to a new state. Brave can be saying goodbye to what isn't working anymore. Brave can be the willingness to be unique and let your true self shine. Brave is not just one thing.

I believe the more we encourage ourselves to do little acts of bravery, the more brave we become. The more successes we have help us be more willing to try bigger bravery situations. 

Sometimes the need to be brave comes out of the blue. There isn't a warning or a scheduled date on the calendar. It just shows up at our door. These are key moments in learning about our bravery. Hopefully in these moments we can look back at our successes and choose the best, brave way to proceed. 

Take a moment and think about all the brave things you have done in your life, big and small. How did they turn out? Would you be more willing to be brave if you knew a bunch of people were standing with you? 

I think our country is at a point where we need bravery. We are the land of the free and home of the brave, right? 

Mostly I do not watch the news. I prefer to read the news or hear it second hand through my husband so the images don't haunt my dreams. It feels like the stories have made pretty clear by now that our country needs some big changes. We need some big changes in power, infrastructure, and beliefs. We need to make big changes to bring us beyond the racism, imbalances, and injustices. 

Can you be brave? Can you stand up for those in need? Can you speak up to those who are too afraid, too stuck to move past these old prejudices? Can you do it if we do it together? 

I'm grateful to know I can be brave. I'm grateful to be finding ways to try to help my community shift to something better. I'm grateful for each of you that is willing to be brave and stand with those who are suffering. I'm grateful to know that we as a country are strong enough and brave enough to overcome racism, injustice, and gross imbalances that some are suffering. I'm grateful to know we can do this. I'm grateful to know we WILL do this. I'm grateful for my daughter's bravery today as she builds her confidence. I'm grateful to know she will do great things as she grows. 

It's time to move forward. It's passed time to make these changes, so let's not keep dragging our feet. Big change is needed and we are brave enough to handle it. Thank you for the difference you are making each day to make this world a more loving place. Have a beautiful day!

Aren't we told that creating a tiny ripple is enough to make big change? Perhaps, if you are like me, you imagine what good "drops" you might make in the lake that could lead to bigger, better ripples that change people's lives. This blog is one example, my way of putting little "drips" of positive out into the world in hopes it creates a ripple and improves people's lives as they find their own things to inspire gratitude.

Lately I am finding myself struggling with people once touted for success and overcoming strife now being rejected and their lessons no longer being taught. I understand (or at least as best I can at this time as a white female) the need to purge racism from its deeply imbedded nest in our society. At the same time, some lessons need to be taught so that we do not repeat the same mistakes. And some people, despite their misguided and harmful views, still managed to make little "drips" of worthy work. 

When I was in school Hellen Keller was the triumph story on how to overcome whatever life handed you. You were the only one that could choose your story and you could overcome whatever you chose. Now the story is mainly left untold because of some fanatical ideas she grew into as an adult. But is the triumph still not worth telling? Is it not still a lesson worth teaching children, that they have the power to overcome?

This summer I learned that Curious George (and his authors) were under fire for tones of racism. I found that odd because what I knew of the authors was their story of fleeing persecution by the Nazis with only a bike and their manuscript. Yes, there are distinct flaws in the story such as no tail and George being taken from Africa. When my daughter asked about that I saw it as a great opportunity to discuss with her how it was wrong for him to have been taken from his family. It gave a way to begin discussing this bigger topic with her that will develop as she understands more. But I have also used it as a way to discuss love. George is not the Man with the yellow hat's son and yet he is treated as such, with kindness and patience as we should show to everyone. Is it a flawed example, sure, but it opens doors to discussions on how to treat others as well as adoption. And the stories themselves have plenty of good lessons too. Are the authors and the undertones a bigger ripple than the "drips" of good these books provide?

Dr. Seuss is under attack, when once he was touted as a visionary and a genius for getting children into reading. We own several of his silly rhyming stories. Several provide very good points of discussion, "a person's a person no matter how small." Do some of his stories have political undertones? Absolutely. But if the message is about teaching to make the world a better place and respect all who live there, aren't those "ripples" way more important that the aspects of his political cartoons that children would most often not be aware of anyway. Yes, some of the books crossed a line and some of the books need new illustrations due to the racist and stereotyping images. But should all his works be stripped from schools? 

I do question myself. I wonder if it is my own privilege that blinds me to these broad sweeps. And yet I also reflect back to high school when my teacher told me that my poem was about overthrowing tyranny when it was the deep saga of trying to survive being bullied. She argued with me about its political nature but I, the author, was telling a different story. 

The beauty of the written word is that it will speak to different people depending on where they are in life. It will have different meaning to different people depending on their own background. It should be to the author to voice what its intention was and many of the authors under attack can not speak to that as they are no longer here.

We could take away all the books about the damsel in distress "needing" a man to save her. You would wipe out and entire era and entire genre on work. Or we could teach our children how to use it to grow and learn from these misguided lessons. We could balance it with other books that show the strong, capable women. And while I know it will not make me popular with many, if we ARE going to take away all books with negative impact, can we start with the Twilight series? Team Jacob or Team Edward? How about Team HEALTHY Relationship?! Because neither of those ones are who she "needs" to be with and for that matter, she in high school so she doesn't need to choose a relationship at all. ...I digress.

Will we stop talking about the good done by presidents if they had an affair, or smoked weed, or made some harmful mistakes? Or will we teach that people are human and with all the screw ups we make there are still drips of good that come? If the ripples of good that we make can be flattened in an instant by scrutiny of our mistakes, then why should the next generations try to be better? If the goal is only perfection, we will all fail. 

Should we take down statues celebrating those who owned slaves? Absolutely. It was wrong. But we still have to find ways to talk about it so the future generations learn from the mistakes of our past. In all honesty I don't know that anyone really deserves a statue. We are all human and we don't need pedestals, busts, or statues but for ego. 

I'm grateful to have a blog. I'm grateful to live in a place where I can mostly say what I want to say. I'm grateful to have a passion for trying to create drips of positivity and good in the world. I'm grateful to be authentic about what gratitude looks like in the real world. I'm grateful to give a little glimpse into my mind in hopes it spurs you to think about new things or see a different perspective. I'm grateful whether you agree with me or not because it is in the differences of opinions and views and the discussions they bring that allows us to grow and learn. I'm grateful for you, yes you, no matter who you are or what you believe. 

What do you think? Where do we draw the line? What lessons are worth teaching?

May we have healthy discussions to better understand each other. May we build a world together that is built on love and respect. Have a beautiful day!

Have you ever cracked open a hard boiled egg to find it is a different shape than you expected? Unbeknownst to you air or water got inside and created an entirely different effect that what your mind pictured. It usually makes no difference when these little surprises show up other than making you scratch your head a little. Usually we just move on. 

People are often like this. Some unseen factor makes them respond differently from what we would expect and yet sometimes it seems a little harder to just brush it off and recognize that something else is going on. We take it personally or we judge the reaction. Perhaps their response triggers a reaction of our own. Rather than scratching our head and just saying , "huh", we might get pulled in. 

Sometimes as parents we get attached to ways of describing our child but our children are changing so fast. Even some things that seem like core personality traits can just shift out of the blue. One bubbly, social child can suddenly be timid and shy when put into a situation that is new. Or maybe the child seems like a picky eater but then presented with something entirely new is suddenly diving in with no hesitation. 

My kids constantly surprise me. One that seemed to have sensory issues suddenly is begging to play with slime and diving head first into a tub of fake snow. One that seemed picky is asking for wasabi chips...yeah, you read that right. One that normally feels a little like a tornado crashing through is cleaning up and washing her hands without being reminded. Kids change all the time. We kind of expect it because they are growing and changing so fast in body and mind it makes sense they would change in other ways too. 

But what about each other? What about the adults? We are just as malleable if we want to be. If we choose to not to hold on to one view of ourself we can shift just as easily. 

Who do you want to be? What traits would you like to see in yourself? 

How can you give space to those around you to be malleable? How can you give grace for reactions and encouragement for growth? 

I'm grateful to witness big changes instantly in my children. I'm grateful to almost see things click into place for them as they grow and change. I'm grateful to know I can be fluid too. I'm grateful to know I can change and grow the traits I want to be stronger in myself. I'm grateful to be reminded that things are not always as we expect and life is better for it. I'm grateful to find myself full of optimism just by watching my little slime explorer. I'm grateful to contemplate "what is my slime?", "what is my wasabi?". I'm grateful for all those who practice grace with me and I'm grateful to try to do the same in return.

May today remind us that we can all grow and change. May we remember we never know the full story of anyone but ourselves and give love to all. Have a beautiful day!

Every day history is made in one way or another, some days we move forward while some days feel like perhaps we are going back. Not every moment of history is momentous but it writes history and paves the future either way.

Today I was hit by an unexpected wave of emotion as I watched Kamala Harris being sworn in as the first woman to hold the Vice-Presidency. I sat there with my two daughters watching as Sonia Sotomayor voiced the oath for VP Harris to vow. 

While I tend to be an emotional person, I am not usually emotionally moved by important moments like these. I am grateful and pleased most definitely, but rarely emotional. 

I watched Christina Koch and Jessica Meir perform the first all female spacewalk in 2019. At the time my daughter asked why hadn't girls done that before and that resonated with how I generally feel about such events. It is great that it is happening but why has it taken so long and why is it still so rare for these special events for women that we have to make note that it is a woman? 

Something about watching these two amazing and powerful women today though, made me well up a little. These are the barriers I want to watch crumble. I want my girls to grow up in a world where truly any dream is possible. I want them to shoot for the stars, for whatever their hearts desire and not be held back by something so simple-minded as being born a woman. 

I'm grateful for the emotion I experienced today. I'm grateful to get to witness so many amazing women in my lifetime. I'm grateful for my girls, young as they are, watching this process with me. I'm grateful to see them enthralled by the beautiful young poet Amanda Gorman and I'm grateful for her powerful words. I'm grateful for a peaceful process today. I'm grateful for the sun shining. I'm grateful to feel like a new leaf is being turned over and while there will always be some days forward and potentially some back I am grateful to feel a new hope for love and unity. 

What moves you? What mark are you making in history today, even if it is seemingly that in "just" your own story? How do you imagine your life and your story impacting the world around you? How can you make a beautiful mark in history?

May today remind us we all have the power to inspire and bring change. May we use our powers to bring positive, loving change. May we take the time to consciously choose how we will make our mark in history. Have a beautiful day!

Determination is great! It allows us to talk up what we are going to do and commit to getting something accomplished. Yet determination is only powerful if we put it to action. Without the action of actually doing what we say we're determined to get done, nothing happens.

Tomorrow is the inauguration of a new president. As with many presidents before him, he has made big promises and is facing quite a few big issues, from the very basic principles of human rights to an exponentially growing pandemic to huge environmental issues. He speaks with determination and I look forward to seeing what actions come from these big promises. It is my sincerest hope that they are actions that bring our country to a place of balance, love, and respect.  

How many times do we speak up determined to make a difference? How many times have we made a commitment to goals in the new year only to let them fade six weeks later? How do we keep our actions as strong as our words?

Part of my practice of becoming aware of when I complain is also making me aware of my determination. It has made me listen deeper to my words and my tone. In doing so I have to ask myself if I am just "preaching" or if I am ready to take the steps I speak of to truly make a difference. 

I'm grateful for this time of awareness and reflection. I'm grateful to see where my words and my actions are not lining up. I'm grateful to see which places my words need to change and which places I need to commit to more action. I'm grateful for the hope I feel in having a new president. I'm grateful to believe that change can happen and that progress can be made to heal the major rifts that have been torn in our country. I'm grateful to believe that words can be the beginning of action and that both have the power to make the world a better place. I'm grateful for change.

May today bring renewed hope for a better world. May we work together to bring equality, love, and respect into every aspect of our lives. Have a beautiful day!