Flotsam and Jetsam

It's been a long time since I put pen to paper (or, as is the reality now, fingers to keyboard). I wish I could say it was because something life altering and fabulous had happened and I was so engrossed in basking in the fabulousness that I simply could not take the time to write. I am thankful that I do not need to report that something life-shattering and horrible has happened and I was too distraught to write. No, the only thing I have been doing is tending to the flotsam and jetsam of my existence. Flotsam, that stuff which washes overboard, often due to some sort of mishap and jetsam; that which is deliberately jettisoned. I, like so many others, have had my fair share of both this year.

I have always been one to have, from outward appearances, "one too many irons in the fire" perhaps. I never saw it in that way in that I was choosing to say "yes" to the responsibilities I took on. I was happy to be involved and give back in ways that helped others. I have had to step away from some irons that I enjoyed poking around with and I have had to pick up others which continually burn my hands, but such is the way of it.

2018 has been a challenging year so far. I say 'so far' because the eternal optimist in me still holds onto the hope that we as a nation, as a species, as a community can come together and launch a Hail Mary pass of love, grace, and peace toward others. At my core, I believe in actively practicing an attitude of gratitude so the fact that I have said on more than one occasion that 2018 can kiss my ample backside is saying something. In addition, we have had some pretty wonderful things happen over this year so my tendency to perceive this year as less than favorable has not been sitting well with me.

Thankfully, my dear friend Kay Trafton over at Fill Your Cup Wellness [@KayTraftonWellness] invited me to join a Thankfulness group for the month of November. For a split second, I thought
"ugh, one more thing to have to do" but due to my deep respect for Kay and appreciation of what she's doing, I joined the group. I practice active gratitude every day. I could find the time to type three things into a Facebook post; and for the first few days, that is exactly what I did. Jumped on. Typed three things. Jumped off. About a week in, however, an interesting thing happened. I started reading other people's posts about what they were thankful for and sometimes why and in addition to a gentle reminder from the universe about perspective, it externally solidified for me one of my long-held truths. Joy shared is doubled (or as is the case in the technology age - replicated exponentially)!

When we practice a personal attitude of gratitude and are mindful of our blessings and good fortune, we improve our outlook and in turn are more likely able to move through our existence leaving positive energy in our wake. When we bring that practice public, we are not only filling our own cup as Kay so lovingly and diligently encourages us to do, but we are actively filling others cups as well. In reading about other people's joy, I found my heart soaring.

 We MUST change the narrative of this country. Daily, there are reports of hate and violence toward others. Every media outlet available is rife with drama and anger. If you are able to take a deep breath and dive below all of that, though - there are stories of love and generosity and human connection all over the place. We just can't hear them because negativity is drowning out the sounds of joy. We can not let that happen. I am not for one second advocating ignoring people's suffering or pretending that there are not deep seeded, divisive issues in nearly every community. I am posing that one of the ways to interrupt the spread of those problems and begin to address them is by shifting the narrative so that the joy is so loud it drowns the negativity until it no longer has air to breathe. Just like one of the ways to squelch a fire is to deprive it of oxygen, we must eradicate hatred's ability to find an outlet for its voice.

Horrible things are always going to happen and we need to be aware of them so we can protect each other but even in the most horrific of situations, there is good happening. People helping, miracles occurring, something to be thankful for. Look for those things. Find those things and shine a light on them. Together, we can start to change the conversation.

I encourage you all to find your Kay. If you can't find a Kay, BE a Kay. Invite others to publicly share their joy and positivity. Some days it will be harder than others but on those days, it is the most crucial. In the sharing of mindful gratitude, we not only find joy, but we give joy which then, in turn, comes back to us exponentially. Doesn't that sound like a better narrative?

Namaste,

Mother Hen