Humbug.

I've never been a big fan of fall.  To me it just meant winter was on the way, bringing the cold and snow.  Don't get me wrong... fall and spring are the most beautiful of seasons, and I'm a push over for a winter wonderland, but it's the dark and cold that seems to go on and on forever.  Now I hear they're predicting (who are 'they' anyway?) we are in for a bad winter.  Well, that's to be expected after the stunted summer we had this year, bringing with it all manner of natural disasters across the globe.  I'm hoping this winter won't turn into just another natural disaster.  So, there's not much to do but hunker down, watch hockey and brace for the worse...

And I think I just found it.   The beginning of October brought with it sunshine and the first subliminal trickling in of it; now, a mere 2 weeks later it's out and it's proud.  I am referring here to the rows and rows of 'all things Christmas' lining the isles of many stores.  I always thought they were supposed to wait at least until Halloween was over before hitting us with yet another opportunity to slag their wares.  Guess with the economic crunch stores are grabbing to get what little hard earned dollars we have left.  It just leaves a real bad taste in my mouth, so I'll make it easier on myself and just stay clear of these stores until at least mid November.  A month and a half built up of any holiday has got to be enough, right?  


I'm going to take that as a yes...

Long time

This blog has been neglected; my dog was found chewing up a beloved book; I am getting an underground zit.  

This is the sad state of my life right now.  And it is because of that I find I'm uninspired to write for fear of it sounding all black and moldy.  I just don't want to do that to you. 

I've taken some time to check out other blogs and I come up sorely lacking.  I think it's because I have no theme... like cooking, or knitting, or crafts, or music, etc.  Those blogs tend to have such a brilliant flow to them, a rhythm that seems to come naturally.  My blog... not so much.  

It is for this reason I am going to take a little more time to figure out a way to revamp this to make it more palatable. This little sabbatical may or may not work; we shall see.  Just wanted to give you a little heads up so you'd not think I'd completely left the building. 

I'm no Elvis...

One of many

Today in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving, that one day a year when we stop and recognize all blessings bestowed.  There's turkey and pumpkin pie and family and friends involved much of the time.  It signals, in a tangible way that fall is now upon us and we need to brace for winter, which is but 2 months away. For most of us it is a holiday like many others; going through the traditions passed on from generation to generation.  For others it is a day like any other, spent like every other, which in reality, it should be.

I'm the first to jump on the turkey/pumpkin pie bandwagon, so I'm not advocating against that.  What I refer to is rather the purpose of the day.  The act of 'giving thanks'.  It's very easy to take one day and heap all our thanks into a pile, acknowledge them and move on, done for another year.  The point is we should be thankful every day of the year and acknowledge the fact that we're still here to do so.  And that is very easy to say, but hard to pull off.  It is difficult to be thankful for the trials and tribulations we all experience one way or another, and yet we should.  If for no other reason than to make us stronger or wiser somehow.   I am a wallower by nature, so this comes very hard for me.  When things get tough, I retreat and feel sorry for myself.  This is not something I am proud of; I fight that reaction constantly and fail miserably much of the time.  Yet, every once in awhile I'll snap out of it and recognize the futility of the emotion that has always stalled me in life.  I may not be able to change the circumstances I'm faced with, but I can change how I react to them.  Sometimes, even the act of writing stuff down gives insight and helps keeps life in perspective. 

I wish it was easier to bare our souls more... there is too much judgement in our society to pull that off without wounds inflicted.  It would be interesting to know that many of us are probably in the same general boat and yet admitting that somehow brands us as 'losers' or 'less thans'.  It's a pity really, cause those who struggle often have the best life stories... the best lessons learned.  I have to remember that when I feel myself grinding down; what story will this tell in the end?   It's a mystery.

May today be just one of many days of thanks throughout the year.  May our collective pain be used for great growth.  May our stories be real.