Tag Archives: Project Gratitiude 2011

Gratitude List as 2011 Flies Toward the Sunset 29

Gratitude • Tags: ,

The year was difficult at times, yet looking back I find I am grateful for lessons learned, for people met, for relationships established, for friendships maintained, for faith, questioned at times but never lost, and for you, my dear supporters. I could not have made it this far without you. This is my final post-a-week for 2011 and while I will continue to blog, I am not committing to a post-a-week in 2012.

I have gotten to know many wonderful people during the year, some through Twitter, Linked-In, my blogs, and even a few on Facebook. I hope you will click on their names to learn more about them.

Mahalo to: Michele Borba, Annie Fox, Sara Winter, Laura Nagle, Susan Marks, Leah Kelley, Elise Stokes, Stephanie Crist, Eric B. Thamasma, Grace Hodgin, Eri Nelson, The Redhead Riter, Lydia, Sharon and Phil Dzialo and their son, Adam, Danette M. Schott, Tiffani Lawton, Lori Lite, Lisa Quinones-Fontanez, Lorna d’Entremont, Bobbi Sheahan, AspieSide, Chi Yon, Lisa, Fi, Leigh Merryday, Alicia, A. K. Butler, Floortime Lite Mama, Mama Fog, Solodialogue, Spectummy Mummy, Elise Ronan, Mommy Lebron, Heather McCracken, Trish, Sharon da Vanport, and I could go on and on, but I am going to stop here. Others are some of those I tweet about, I post about, I mention on Facebook, or the authors of the blogs I list in Special Peeps. You see there are too many to link.

Please also look at my Helpful Info section. Helpful Info is located at the bottom of my blog if you are viewing the full version instead of the mobile view. There you will find others that I am grateful to have gotten to know including Tony Attwood, whom I actually met in 2010.

Wishing all of you Hauoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year!)

With Aloha,

Sue

Yes Virginia It Is Okay to Say Happy Holidays! 11

Celebrations, Gratitude, Tolerence • Tags: , ,

Dear Readers,

Generally I avoid discussions about religion. I am a Christian, but I believe in tolerance in all forms, and I am grateful for those who understand the need for tolerance of differences, so yes Happy Holidays is correct. I know some of my Christian friends are going to disagree with me on this one. I only hope you will hear me out before you attack.

I watched Have a Little Faith, the movie inspired by Mitch Albom’s book by the same name, earlier this week and I fell in love with two deceased men, Rabbi Albert L. Lewis and Pastor Henry Covington. When Albom asked Rabbi Lewis why he supports others of different faiths he replied, “Why Tree’s….Why not one prefect tree for the whole earth?” He went on to explain there are oaks and elms, etc. Then he said, “Many trees, the branches all leading to God.” He explained that hate is wrongly engaged in the name of religion for all religions teach, “Honor thy neighbor!” Did I say I love this man?

Yes, Christ is in Christmas and he should remain there; however, even some Christians celebrate more than just Christmas during December. For instance, December sixth is Saint Nicholas Day. In German culture: Europeans celebrate St. Nicholas Day activities (pictures) – National Germany Headlines | Examiner.com.

December eighth is Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org.

Another Feast Day – Our Lady of Guadalupe | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org starts on December twelfth. Yes Christmas is the basis for these, but they are not technically Christmas.

Then, we have other religions that are practiced in the United States and around the world that should also be honored. December fifth was The Day of ‘Ashura, a religious observance marked every year by Muslims. The word ‘Ashura literally means “10th,” as it is on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islāmic year.

The Buddhist community celebrates Bodhi Day on December eighth. You can read about it at: How To Celebrate Bodhi Day | DoItYourself.com.

The Jewish community celebrates Hanukkah from December twenty-first through December twenty-eighth. Read about it: Rabbi Barry A. Kenter: Hanukkah: Not Quite the Jewish Christmas.

Then there is the religion I know the least about, BBC – Religions – Zoroastrian: At a Glance. They celebrate Zarathosht Diso on December twenty-sixth.

December twenty-second is The Winter Solstice Wicca and Pagan Festival: Wiccans Celebrate Shortest Day at the Celtic Festival of Yule | Suite101.com.

You might notice I left the Hindu and Taoist religions out. They do not have celebrations in December although they do in other months.

I wish all of my readers around the world Happy Holidays!

Be the Change You Want! 2

Books, Bullying, Bystanders, Gratitude, Parenting, Schools, Teachers • Tags: , , ,

The covers have to come off in the morning, the head must avoid the sand, the lips must speak up for change to happen. Help prevent those stories you refuse to read. Real change requires full participation! Support others who are trying to make a difference.

This includes Michele Borba, who I am proud to call my Twitter friend and hero! She wrote an excellent post on what to do if your teen is cyberbullied! FYI the video is an overview of her book and is used here with her permission. Watch and you will see why she is my hero!

Be kind, respectful, forgiving and supportive of all people. Teach your children with your words and with your deeds. Join in the discussions of ways to help! Truly, this is the only option for real change. Please realize this and join me in helping to make a difference. Our children are our future and they deserve our full support!

Thanksgiving Gratitude 12

Gratitude • Tags: , ,

Last year I posted about a family tradition at our house of going around the table and telling each other the things that make us thankful. There are things I had hoped for this year that have not turned out quite the way I had anticipated. Clouds have descended over our home at times during the past year as my regular readers are aware, but all hope is not lost.

I still have to be careful as my back continues to heal from my fall in May, but it is getting better and I am even able to go without my brace most of the time now. I do still use my ice and I still occasionally use Advil, but there is hope. The clouds are less threatening and I am beginning to see beauty in simple things that I did not enjoy previously, like vacuuming my house.  I know I know, that sounds crazy, but when you have been unable to do simple things, former chores can actually be a pleasure. Your views change!

There are still things that I hope and pray will change including more joy and kindness in our world, and especially in the lives of the victims of bullying and in the lives of those who have lost loved ones to bullying. I want a society that gets why the effects of bullying are long-term and how much love and support the victims need and even how sometimes they need space and time to heal. It is about what is best for them. That is what really matters most. If they cannot handle family gatherings, their wishes need to be honored not questioned. Keep them in your hearts and prayers, but realize this is not about you. They are what matters most right now.

I remain thankful for everyone who works to help, including a member of the Coral Reefer Band who is helping. Jim Mayer, writes, produces and performs children’s music to help teach values, help develop character,  and to promote understanding of complex emotions and dealing with bullies. To learn more, read On Bullying and Suicide: A Message of Hope, Help from Coral Reefer Band Member – MarketWatch.

Today I saw this rainbow which reminded me that there is infinite hope and there are reasons to be thankful. I am thankful for my family and friends, for everyone who has helped me this year including Tony Attwood, for all of my fellow bloggers, and for those who support me on Twitter, on Facebook and at Linked In, especially the new friends who I have met this year and who have helped me just by being here. Some have posted reviews of my novel and others have helped in other ways. I also joined a group of bloggers at Danette’s Best of Best on S-O-S blog this year and found another supportive group.

The ones who mean the most are listed under helpful info and in Special Peeps from the menu above. I am especially grateful to Robert, who bravely shared his bullying story on my blog. I am also grateful to Bobbi, who shared two wonderful posts recently. I have another wonderful guest post planned for Friday from Lydia at Autistic Speaks. I hope you will stop by and support Lydia.

It is another positive post I assure you. I have learned too few can handle the bullying stories so I am not going to pursue more of these at this time although I will still address the issue on this blog.

Wishing everyone in the United States a very Happy Thanksgiving and all of my friends around the world a wonderful weekend and Happy Holidays!

Mahalo for all of your support,

Sue