As I get older, Thanksgiving becomes less of a meal, and more of finding the beauty in everyday life. In each moment. I do my best to see the light in all things, all being and when I my eyes don’t see and my heart feels faded I turn to poetry. So I wanted to share the following deep thoughts and words one of my favorite contemporary poets, Mary Oliver. Here are two of hers. Enjoy your holiday this week. May it be lovely, fun and gratitude filled. Namaste, Marsha

Praying

It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.
Mary Oliver

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Mary Oliver

Do you complain, yell, scream or put others down? Probably now and then. Some of us more than others. I feel very confident in saying that we’re never proud of it, nor does it ever really make us feel better.

Think about it for a minute….. Who are your targets or dumping grounds for the emotions of blame, anger, frustration, disappointment, etc?

Why is that when we don’t feel good emotionally, we want someone else to fix it. Does releasing anger and spouting negative words onto someone else ever really feel good? No, never.

Often times our spouses, loved ones or our children may be our ‘targets’. Maybe as the saying goes, familiarity (the family) breeds contempt. If someone is really close to us and we love them, we release our ’stuff’ on them because we can? Does that make sense? No.

Are we just magnifying onto others and the outside world what we feel inside? When we point a finger at someone else and tell them what’s wrong with them perhaps we can stop, take a breath and remember that we have 4 other fingers pointing back to ourselves.

So the truth seems to be that what we pick on or rant against in others is really about ourselves. When I point out your faults perhaps the truth is that the mirror is really closer than I think. In fact, it’s right in front of me. I can only realize them in you if I already feel it in me. Polish up the mirrors and reflect your light. “Untainted happiness is the inner journey and it is that inner journey that really matters. Yoga takes you there.” 
BKS Iyengar

This holiday season let’s clear our thoughts, gut reactions, souls and make our time together sweet. What goes around comes around. The laws of karma.

Relationships provide a powerful and immediate mirror that invite us to see ourselves more clearly. In fact when we are observant and reflective, we increase our potential of self awareness and reflection. Breathe before you speak. Keep it high. Make it loving. Enjoy each other and all our blessings.