Yes, it’s that time again, when giant turkeys and homemade pies threaten to keep us at the table far longer than our waistlines can endure. But every year endure they must because we know how to show our gratitude for a well cooked meal. We do, we do!
 
We gobble it up, ask for seconds, and then return for leftovers before we’re finally ready to call it a day.
 
But what about the rest of your life? How well do you gobble up the gifts that are given to you? How well do you show your gratitude then?
 
Because no matter the challenges, there are still so many, many gifts that life bestows upon you. And not just once in awhile, here and there, but over and over again. When we allow it.
 
How Well Do You Receive? Read More→

Any number of times we’ve found ourselves caught up in the “Prince Charming” fantasy of success when listening to one of the many charismatic Personality Marketers who promote from the stage or through teleseminars.
 
And, unconsciously we wanted to believe, and did, that we would receive all that was promised during their “offer.” So we pulled out our credit card and bought “the magic” only to discover months later—when our intelligence and wisdom clicked back in—that we’d bought into a largely limited or over-inflated program that didn’t come close to matching what we wanted or needed.
 
On a few occasions we were able to get our money back. On too many occasions we were . . .

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We grew up during the 60s and we were hopeful for the betterment of our country and the world. We were not just idealistic then but tender-hearted. We not only wanted a better world, we fully believed it was possible. Maybe that’s just part of being in your mid-20s, maybe not. But that’s who we were.

Then Jack Kennedy was assassinated. Then Robert Kennedy. Then Martin Luther King. And the Vietnam war was in full rage. Riots across the country. Kent State – students shot. The government—Lyndon Johnson (Democrat) and Richard Nixon (Republican)—seemed to be lying without conscience.

For us, first came disillusion—“I can’t believe they’re doing this.” Then confusion—“I don’t know what to do.” Then rage—“Tear it all down.” Then resignation—“What’s the point?” And finally apathy— “Why the hell bother?”

The last was the worst. A whisper announcing the loss of belief—even the possibility of belief.

We were . . .

Without a place—inside or out. Without a sense of belonging. Without any desire to belong.

Hope? Only a set up.
Care? For what?
Consciousness? Emotionally too expensive.
Conscience? What was that again?

Bleak. Only the past was open to remember. The future? Without light.

Until . . .

This morning when we awoke, delighted with Obama’s victory last night.

And, during two conversations—

One with Jae Jans and his wife Andrea Segovia, in their mid-20s, and wise beyond their years . . .

And the other with our friend Tom Justin, our age, a big-hearted conservative . . .

We spoke of something we’d never felt or were aware of before. Our realization emerged in pieces until finally we saw clearly that all those years ago we’d not just become disaffected with politics and politicians—we’d lost our souls, at least that part of our soul that is made up of and needs to participate in the common good.

We both cried—from realizing the loss and from the joy of an awakening.

Yes we supported Obama. We’ve never not been liberals. We were thrilled to hear him talk about hope—the hope in possibility. But we had not realized, not until this morning, how lonely we were for that part of ourselves that Obama’s win allowed us to touch—and believe in again.  

Because It Truly Is All in the Connection,

 Judith & Jim 

PS — Have you been moved by this election? We’d love to hear.
 

Recently we attended a local seminar. The presenter, a young man in his late twenties we’ll call Andrew, was using Power Point to show the buyers of his Internet marketing  program The “buyers” were all male and all white.
 
Judith said, “I’m curious. All the buyers in your power point are males and white males. It’s hard to listen to your presentation when I’m not represented. And neither are lots of other people in this room.”
 
Andrew looked stunned.
 
With other audience members nodding in agreement, Judith went on…   Read More→