Monday, October 08, 2007

THE GIVING OF THANKS

Today is Thanksgiving in Canada. A day that traditionally means the giving of thanks. I thought I would use this as an opportunity to share what I am most thankful of, and most importantly what I am most grateful for.

Today more than ever I am grateful to be a Canadian. Why, because I see what the rest of the world is becoming. It's not pleasant. I am saddened to say that for the first time in my life I am happy that I did not make the decision to remain in the U.S. after I graduated from College. I am grateful to the University of Montana for giving me a chance to get a college education when no Canadian University would accept me. I am grateful for the opportunity to obtain my Bachelors degree and for them accepting me into the Masters program in Sociology.

Today more than ever I am grateful for my American friends and relatives, all of whom are sickened by what has happened to their country, but feel powerless to to able to do anything about it. I am grateful to Paul Wiley and The Book Tree Publishing, an American publisher in San Diego who has the faith and belief that Zentrepreneurism is a book that needs to have a voice and that the time is know for the American community to hear the message. They will be publishing my book in paperback in 2008. No Canadian publisher was interested. This speaks volumes on why an American gets things done , while a Canadian makes decisions by committee.

And so the paradox, I love to be doing business in the U.S., I love my American friends and relatives, and hate America and what it has become. George W. Bush, may in fact go down in history as not only the worst President in U.S. history, but will also be remembered for what he did to destroy the "soul" of the American people.

Today I am grateful for being able to speak my truth, in public, and in this blog. The monks in Burma have not had that privilege, and my heart goes out to them. Being grateful also comes with responsibility, to be grateful also means we are humbled first. Being humbled allows us to appreciate what we have, not what we don't have. I have been humbled so many times I have lost count. The important thing is that we stop and take notice each time we are humbled. If we don't we have learned nothing. Today I am grateful for being humbled and for the privilege of being able to see another flower, take another breath, touch another's hand, feel the warmth of another sunny day, and embrace my grandchildren, for yet another day.

Today I give thanks, yesterday I was humbled, and tomorrow I ask for yet another day!