To celebrate Thanks Giving, we need only look around us to see
the many ways our life have been enriched and blessed.
To celebrate Thanks Giving, we need only look around us to see the many ways our life have been enriched and blessed. As we draw closer to this national observance of divine favors, let us acknowledge what we have that has become such a way of life. Today let me give thanks for all that I can see, feel, hear, touch, taste, speak and that I can share and receive. For many, just waking up to another sunrise is a gift, a and so we give thanks for a new day which is full of surprise, adventure and glory.
As we gather our families close by and look at the past eleven months, the more days we have lived, the more we realize we can change the way we view our lives. Each day is a new beginning, and with each new day comes a chance to focus on a quality or characteristic that you would like to incorporate into your life. I invite you to share with me 30 ways/day to a deeper quality of life. Use each word as a focal point, and keep it close by. Research it… Look it up in the dictionary for a deeper meaning. Use it in your conversations, and when your mind is racing, slow it down by concentrating on your word. Some suggestions:
Abundance, Allow, Awareness, Balance, Clarity, Courage, Compassion, Creativity, Enthusiasm, Faith, Flexibility, Flow, Forgiveness, Freedom, Grace, Gratitude, Healing, Imagination, Inspiration, Integrity, Intimacy, Journey, Laughter, Listening, Love, Nurturing, Opportunity, Peace, Play, Perspective.
Being filled with gratitude andthanks enables us to approach each day as a present and with this gift comes a deeper sense of responsibility for self and for our community. These last few weeks I have been talking to myself about our teenagers and the issues, struggles and challenges they face in our town. A survey suggested that 85 percent of our teens do not feel “valued” by us. I have been pondering this and running this around in my mind trying to get a hold of the implications of this simple ten word sentence. I’ve been talking with teens and listening to their questions and comments.
This is so stretching to my mind. Here we have a state as well as a nation, that constantly preaches, our children are our most important resource and yet I see little communication between teens and adults concerning the issues teens face on a daily basis. Maybe the subjects of depression, cutting, bullying, career counseling, date rape, anger management, eating disorders, suicide, abuse, drugs, sexuality happens behind closed doors, but the teens I have spoken with are crying out for guidance and information. And so are parents.
Our small community has different groups of teens. We have the skinheads, Goths, gangsters, nerds, preppies, new agers, druggies and many more. If you have a teenager, ask them the groups that are on campus. From talking with teens, one commonality is that they do not want to be in the same place at the same time. The other commonality is that they wish our town would start a discussion about drug use and availability.
A part of me wonders how do we focus our community to create lasting links across schools, businesses, non profits, clubs, organizations, police and employers in order to open conversations to address the issues and concerns facing our teens.
With one counselor for every 500 students, we cannot look to our schools to create the platform for change. Many of our teens are home schooled or in independent studies. With a sluggish economy, there are no jobs. Many a parent or parents find it necessary to work two jobs. We have no billiards, no bowling alley, no movie theaters. We say our children are our most precious assets, and as Ralph Peters said, “Comforting lies are humanity’s favorite narcotic.”
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. Just for today, I am going to be grateful and just for today, I will seek to understand another. Just for today I will pray for peace, love, and harmony among all groups of people. Just for today, I will think how I can show value to a teen. Just for today, I will ask, while looking into their eyes, “how are you?” and then hush up and listen.
May your celebrations be many, spirited and create lasting memories.
Mary Ellen Salzano is a Realtor for Century 21 Premier. She lives in Morgan Hill with her husband and two children. She also is a library commissioner. Her columns are published the third Friday of the month. Contact her at maryellen_ sa*****@***oo.com
