Breathing Underwater

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving (also known in our house as Elastic-Waist Pants Day ). Frankly, I've had mixed feelings about that holiday for a long time, but this year it's enabling to me to take five days off, which I get to spend with my daughter, and I'll have dinner with wonderful friends. So I'm not going to look at it all too closely, shake my head at the excess it seems to inspire, or complain about anything. I'm going to enjoy it.  The thing I really do like about Thanksgiving is that also inspires gratitude... and better yet, gratitude spoken aloud. That's pretty nice, really. I try hard (and mostly succeed) to recognize and express gratitude every day, for big and small things. I work in an industry where many people have precious little and/or deal with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, so I find it's necessary for my own well-being to be grateful for what I have; for what I'm given. Today I'm going to list, with a grateful heart, many...

Last week, two of my high school classmates died. Yesterday, I found out another friend is seriously ill. Someone else I know recently lost a pregnancy. Another person was diagnosed with cancer. There is so much pain in the world... even in my little corner of it. And so much loss. And myself? Well, I've spent a lot of time lately feeling tired and frustrated - pulled in a million different directions. I'm not sleeping well. I hurt all the time. I'm trying to just get on with things but I'm down. Really down. I want a month (or 6) to do absolutely nothing but read books and take my dog for walks. I want to go to the beach. And stay there. Forever. I want time. I want a break. I want a new president. I want Life to be good and happy and easy for EVERYONE for just a little while. I want... I want... I want... I read something the other day that made me think... it went something like this:  There are people who are, right this moment, wishing for what ...