I love turkey as much as the next person (ok, it’s all about the stuffing and gravy) but I’m not so fond of mob mentality sentiment.  I’m a little suspicious that what people say in public that they’re thankful for is a little different than what they might write in the sand of a deserted dessert island. I’ve been to enough painfully awkward holiday dinners to know that not every family is the stuff of pure gratitude.  I think there’s a little of that ‘if I say it with enough enthusiasm I might believe it’ so I prefer to keep my soul searching a little more private.

Two years ago I started a tradition of writing a Thanksgiving message and putting it in a bottle and into the ocean.  The contents remain private except to those that might find the bottle (and yes, one of them has been found.)  I don’t even keep a copy for myself so that it truly goes out with the tide. I’ve been sitting here thinking about whether I wanted to take this into a third year or give it up. It takes some effort to get to a beach and it seem a little silly doing this every year.

I’ve decided it’s worth continuing simply because the act of writing private thoughts with the idea that it might be read by a stranger requires a greater degree of care than just simply jotting a quick list in a diary.  There’s a ritual that feels important in choosing the glass bottle, wrapping the message carefully and sealing it with a cork. Too much effort to say that I’m grateful for my family or my health. Of course there’s a lot that I’m grateful for but maybe not so many that I feel strongly enough about to consign to the ocean.  I’m healthy, but I’ve always been healthy so it doesn’t seem remarkable enough to talk about. I’m sure I don’t feel as thankful about that as a cancer survivor would – we all perceive the world through our personal experiences. So each year I think about what I would feel most lost without.

What makes you glad to be alive? Is that different from what you might tell a reporter? I hope that all of you find some time today for quiet reflection and your own traditions that leave you feeling more connected with your spirit, rested, and moving through December with grace and joy:-)

Technorati Tags: intuition, letting yourself go

It’s hard to miss the references to Sesame Street’s 40th birthday this week – I’m just thrilled that there’s something out there still that’s older than I am;-)  I did see one article that I thought was thought provoking, The Oscar the Grouch Guide to Building a More Remarkable Blog. While it’s theoretically talking about blogging, the concept is relevant to just about anything where there is interaction between you and potential customers of “you” whether that’s writing or jewelry, dancing, or cooking.  The less you edit yourself to fit ‘mainstream’ the more loyal your fans will be, even if that number is significantly smaller.  And who doesn’t want loyal fans?

It can be a hard thing to remember because so much is reported in terms of large numbers – albums sold, books sold, apps downloaded but love, while harder to quantify, tends to last a lot longer.  Oscar the Grouch definitely does things his way and is happy in his own unique way in the process.  How else will new friends and fans find you

Technorati Tags: being yourself, letting yourself go

Last Friday was a very interesting day – so much so that most of the following week pales in comparison.  I got up very early so that I could catch the good photographic light in the tulip fields (and avoid the crowds.) I made a quick web check as I was rushing around to make sure things were in good working order before I left for the day and practically swallowed my tongue in surprise.

When I really let my sense of humor out with no reservations, odd things happen so I tend to corral it more than I should.  When I wrote an online personal ad in this voice I had over 200 responses in 24 hours which was nice but overwhelming.  The last time I let it out at work, senior Vice Presidents at a national bank were texting me from a meeting after seeing my email on their blackberries.  So maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised on Friday, but the urge had overtaken me earlier in the week anyway and I enjoyed writing something that I figured only a few people would see.  The first comment to that blog ever was posted within an hour of that article going live and from the human subject of the post – you can see it here (scroll down to the first comment and you’ll begin to understand my reaction.)

The sheer odds of that happening for a blog that reached it’s peak so far of 20 visitors later that day had me grinning for the rest of Friday.  And that exuberance of ‘anything can happen’ led me to take some artistic risks with the camera that resulted in some really great pictures. I do feel inspired when improbable things happen, because maybe more are on their way!  Would I have written it differently if I’d thought the subject would read it? Probably, but now that he has, I don’t feel compelled to change a word.  I’m resolving to let that side of me out a little more often – nothing wrong with being caught by a wave of surprise.

Isabeau on her 18th birthday

Another thing I tend to hold back on is talking about my cat. I’m not fond of the stereotype of single women with their cats so I tend to avoid giving that impression. But… Monday was Isabeau’s 18th birthday- that’s actual years so something like 126 in cat/dog years. I’ve had her since she was six weeks old so it did make me pause and reflect on what she’s seen me through (2 graduate degrees, 4 states, 3 cars, 8 residences, …) When people say that nobody succeeds on their own I think most people are talking about other people which is true enough, but the support of pets shouldn’t be discounted either. Her confidence is me means I can never really lose mine.

Technorati Tags: letting yourself go, removing limits, taking risks