Giving Thanks

Dear Readers,

As Canadian Thanksgiving approaches (this Monday), I wanted to give thanks to all of my remarkable readers. Since starting this blog, I have wandered through many subjects (headaches, childhood, feminism, spirituality, shopping, house buying, home decor, love!) and have met dozens of amazing people (almost all women I think) along the way.

But I was touched, most of all, by all the kind thoughts and words you commented on my last post. I had a big, life-altering experience, and I so appreciate your genuine words of support and encouragement, and also your words of thanks, for me, for being alive. In this world, we don't often feel appreciated enough, so I just wanted to say that I appreciate all of you, every single one of you, who took the time to write (and to those who didn't, who took the time to read!) to tell me that you care. And for opening your heart and feeling.

This blog world is funny. We really don't know each other all that well. But the reality is, what we do get to know is the essence of other people. We see ourselves in them, in the little odd things we love, in our vulnerabilities, in our confessions (like the smart and successful Melissa admitting she doesn't exactly like to cook!), in the secret dialogue that goes on inside our heads. This is a place where we belong, where we don't get judged on how we look or don't look, or how clean our house really is, or how expensive it is, or what our job is, or if we are young or old or short or tall or too fat or too stinking rich or sad or deliriously happy or haven't done our hair today or happen to be wearing our gym clothes (I do my best thinking in gym clothes). We are perfect here, letting it all hang out. Perfect strangers sharing what really matters - love and kindness and mindfulness and compassion and positive thoughts and great ideas (amazing ideas!) and wisdom...the most lovely wisdom about how to live a good life. I am proud of every one of you. Thanks for being you!

And now some thoughts I stole from Moonlight Nimi's lovely blog. A quote from William Ellery Channing :

"To live content with small means
To seek elegance rather than luxury
And refinement rather than fashion
To be worthy, not respectable
And wealthy, not rich
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly
To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart
To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common
This is to be my symphony"

Thanks Moonlight Nimi, super Mom, and to everyone else who visits me here.

Now, I am off to Vancouver Island for 2 weeks of vacation by the ocean. We'll spend a few days in Victoria and then drive up to Tofino for a week at our favorite lodge www.middlebeach.com (click on Accomodations - we are staying upstairs in the Lodge at the Beach, overlooking the ocean on two sides!)

Posting later in October, Terri xo