GRATEFULLY
Friday Oct. 10, 2014
Does everyone keep those mental lists?
One list, on one side of our brain, with those positive things.
And its counterpart, on the other side/hand, where negative vibes are stored.
Which list are you reviewing?
If you are thankful, from which list does that joy emerge?
Is one list about abundance, love, energy, success, achievement, family and joy?
Other list about scarcity, hate, negativity, failure, family and pain?
I am confident family shows up on both lists for everyone.
This Thanksgiving (in Canada) weekend, which mode are you in?
Giving thanks. Stuff a bird. Eating.
Good reasons for a long weekend.
Friends and family not here, or gone away – with other plans.
Giving thanks is not about turkey, gravy, hugs and smiles, isn’t about memories of noisy rooms and sitting at the kids table.
Is it just a simple gathering of family, pure pleasure like cavorting in the surf on waves of good cheer and great feelings – ones that put to rest old festering family feuds, when gripes, jealousies and old wounds are soothed with warm thoughts and good cheer?
Or just positivity, turkey and gravy?
Weekends, holidays and special occasions are special. More-so when you have someone to share them with. Spent alone – there are two ways to go. One is to be lonely, morose and resentful. Lonely for being alone. Morose with sadness. Resentful for not having what everyone else is having.
So many things, better than last year.
Some not.
First thanksgiving without my dad.
No need to cook him a bird.
No opportunity to play cribbage, watch football or hang out.
I am grateful for ones we had.
Mark Kolke
column written/ published from Calgary
Reader feedback / comments always welcome:
PACK AGE ING
Hi Mark. This is the first time I have ever responded to your daily column, which by the way, I read every day. I’ve thought about doing this many times but as you have articulated, we rush around trying to be more effective so we can do more work; so I never have. I read it and move on with the rest of my day. This article resonates with me. Lately, I have spent considerable time thinking about this “twirling dance”, that never seems to stop. Like the song from the country music band Alabama, and their recording from 1992, “I’m In A Hurry (And I Don’t Know Why). 12 years later and I still apparently haven’t figured it out. Hope you are having a great day and make sure you have a good time in Hawaii. A colleague from the distant past, JE, Calgary, AB
