Happy Thanksgiving

HAPPY, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! Thanksgiving of 2010 has arrived.

There have been fewer posts the last few months, as my focus has more places to land. And the places have been joyful.

First, thankful to God for his unabiding (I don't think unabiding is a word, yet I like it) - never ending love and gracefulness who continues to mold me. He is with me when writing as I share thoughts and experiences with you.

Second, I am thankful that this blog, appears to be available upon demand. When the thoughts arrive and I want to share with you, it is here. I am thankful for the opportunity and a platform to write, and provide thoughts which I make without malice, in a clear, honest and light style.

Third, I am grateful for you who have commented and provided opportunities for more posts on subjects that were not on my radar. For sharing desperate days and experiences and sharing with others - we are not alone - everything we do will affect others - and by allowing others to see and feel, it is understood we are not alone. There is strength in wisdom, knowledge and comfort as others share empathy and understanding.

Fourth, and not the least - opportunity for love abounding has come from unimagined places and people, through God. As experiences unfold, I will share. The experience this past month was not through my design - it unfolded and has been an amazing, joyful journey which shortly will expand.

Suggestion: Share with others what you are thankful for. Take time to verbalize it, reword it, hear what it sounds like. Put it on paper make it your own - yet share it.

And, here is another - appreciate those around you. If they challenge you, thank them anyway. And, you can be honest - say this is challenging yet, I thank you. It might provide an opportunity to remove the challenge, and, perhaps together take steps to resolve it.

HAPPY, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.......

Patience -- A gift to yourself and others.........

Try it on, perhaps, see how it feels. Everything new feels a bit awkward. I put on a pair of new sneakers this week, and they were much better looking than the old pair for starters. And, they felt comfortable, cushy and soft. And, they felt a bit awkward, as they were very different from the old pair. Not "bad" awkward, simply different awkward.

Patience can feel like both - "bad" awkward and simply different awkward. It will depend on the area that you are testing patience in. With sneakers not as noticeable, as when taking steps to change behavior.

For example, are you in line at the mall during the holiday. Where does patience show up then? Not at all, most likely, because there is no room as agitation and annoyance begin to flow higher and higher within our visibility and awareness. Or are you driving to work, or listening to someone else talk, in a challenging relationship, taking care of others such as small children or parents.

The last six months has been an interesting time for me. From my Christian perspective God gave me the opportunity for a lesson, and I decided to dive in and see what would happen.

Thank you all for being patient as I have taken steps and been doing other things. For one, speaking more, and writing less.

Happy Monday before Thanksgiving.

As the holiday season progresses I will be blogging about patience and the lessons I have learned. The first lesson is to make room for it. Like anything else - take a look at your closet or the garage. Is there room for new clothes or the car?

Communication - Listen

Recently a thought occurred to me that regardless of age, one of the most important aspects of communication is listening. Whether someone is 2 - 10 - 30 -50 -80 - or, listening is one of the most important and often not thought of skills within the art of communication.

If a question is asked, clarification may be needed. Sometimes, and often, the person asking the question is not asking for the information that the listener believes is needed to answer the question.

Some questions are so simplistic and/or broad. Ask a question in return such as, "Could you be more specific? Or, simply say -- interesting question, why do you ask?

Especially talking with children when uncertain how much information to provide. Many times the person asking the question may not be asking for reasons the listener believes are true.

Take steps to not prejudge or determine "why" until know more clearly and understand what is being asked.