ThanksGiving

I have been off and on vegetarian for a significant portion of my life, so the turkey slaughter has never been my favorite part of Thanksgiving. The thing I do love about Thanksgiving is the gathering of friends and family and the meditation of giving thanks.



I usually take a moment this time of year to reflect and be grateful for all of the blessings in my life. This year I have a heart full of gratitude for my new son, Gabriel, who will be 25 days old on Thanksgiving day. I am so grateful for his health, his beautiful presence, and the love and bliss he brings to his new parents and our families.




It is amazing how just the site of a tiny baby brings smiles to the faces of strangers. People aren't afraid to stop and stare at an infant, they know the infant has no concern about being publicly admired. The infant won't say "What are you staring at?!" Infants are completely authentic. Everything they feel is genuinely expressed, with no sensoring, anytime (3am), any palce, public or not.



We have a lot to learn from infants. If as adults we practice expressing our emotions, thoughts, and feelings genuinely and authentically to eachother, and if as listeners we can allow our loved ones to express themselves openly without becoming judgmental of them, a new world of authentic relationship will open up.



So my goal this Thanksgiving is to listen without taking offense, and be fully present without judgment.