The turkey is in and I'm taking a moment to enjoy a cup of coffee and write to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a curious thing - that turkey.  I love to cook and yet, I almost feel a bit anxious about this.  Perhaps it's because I've only cooked one other turkey in my life (and that was probably 20 years ago) or maybe it's the fact that it's not just my immediate family who will be here and I want to make sure that not only is it done, but edible.  I suppose it could be the fact that my brother in laws grandmother (who you know has cooked many a turkey in her day) will be here and I want to be impressive.  The funny part is - there is plenty of food (we have a ham coming too) and noone will really care, plus they'll all be polite about it so why worry.  I can't do much about it now.  It will either be done when I want it to be or when it wants to be.

There is a lesson in this turkey cooking - prep for family+ day today.  

Without getting on a soapbox this morning, let me just say simply say that I believe we were all created to live the life we've been given.  The chance to find our gifts and the choice to use them to the best of our abilities. Sometimes this part of the journey takes up the whole thing.  There are people who find and follow their passion early and there are others who take some time to find not only what they are passionate about, but that there is much to be grateful for.  

Some would say I've been passionate my whole life and I suppose they would be right, but not sure that I was always passionate about the best things for me (or perhaps those around me either).  The beauty is that as I've gotten older, my passion for life has not waned.  I have been greatly blessed and remind myself of that daily - most of the times unintentionally and other times I have to stop, take a moment and look around.  The point being, I am grateful.  

Grateful that I have a loving family, wonderful friends and a circle of people around me with whom I hope to leave a positive mark.  

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude ames sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Meoldy Beattie

So, go out, find something to be grateful for - enjoy the day with family and friends (new or old) - find your passion and see where it leads you, because...

In the end, it's not about who we impressed or how many turkeys we cooked (and were edible) 

To joy and good health~
Kelley

I am reminded today of a variety of things.  I was able to get up this morning, move on my own, make breakfast for my niece, take the dog for a walk and feel the wind blow (extremely hard at times), but feel it none the less.  I had coffee with my parents, have talked to several friends and as I was checking out at a store I was told that someone is thinking of me and my family throughout this holiday season.  That gave me a good feeling.  I tried to return that favor when I saw someone in the store feel a bit of frustration over the fact that they were out of turkey roasting bags so I told her I had an extra at home that I would be happy to share.  It's a simple thing - this kindness deal.

I am reminded today that this little town in a (what some would say is) very remote corner of Northwest Kansas is alive and a great place to have grown up in and return to - whether it be for a visit or to live. 

In this world filled with chaos and confusion about what is right and wrong, who's fault it is, who we should believe and who we should not, there is comfort and peace and even a sense of serenity.  And.... might I add - it can be found anywhere, if we just choose to look.  To open our eyes to the possibilities.

For you see, when I was growing up, I couldn't wait to leave.  I needed to breathe.  I needed life.  I needed to be in the city or at least somewhere where not every single person knew who I was and what was happening in my life.  I'm not saying I will be moving here on a permanent basis, but I certainly have a new perspective and promise to do what I can to help this little community stay alive.​​​

Have you seen or heard the one of the things Mother Teresa used to say?  "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile." - Mother Teresa​.​

It matters not to me whether you believe in God or not.  Whether you would consider yourself spiritual or not.  You may believe in aliens and UFO's and that's your right, your choice.  It does matter to me that I try to live each day with kindness on my face, in my eyes and in my smile.  It matters because hopefully, that simple gesture can somehow brighten your day or that of someone else and give them the feeling that there is still good in this world that it's not all chaos and confusion, fighting and war.  That there are things worth living for, with and so much more to come.  We are given this life to live and live by example is what I hope to do.​

Where are your simple reminders today and how can you shed a bit of kindness in this world?​​


To joy and good health...

​Kelley

​​

In my last post I wrote about change and choice.  Changes happen, it's life and part of it.  Choices happen also, they're life and part of it.  However, we often have options with those two things.  While it's true (I believe) change is sometimes inevitable, we can make a choice to change.  A choice to be happy or sad, glad or mad, different than we were yesterday and than we'll be tomorrow.  All we have is today and we need to make it count.

The holidays are upon us and they will be different this year as they are in some ways from year to year.  For one thing, I'm hosting this Thanksgiving dinner at my house in Kansas.  Now, I do love to cook, but don't do it often for the masses.  I'm much more of a quick meal (ie: dinner might be a pound of asparagus or chips and salsa or eggs with spinach) so it will be interesting.  Also, because I'm not doing what we've done for at least 46 years.  I'm not having a sit down, all at the same table, dress up, china sort of meal.  Yes, there will be turkey and mashed potatoes, but the tables will be scattered, parades and football will be playing, puzzles will be out, paper plates will be used and there may even be some balloons.  Why all the change?  Because this year is the first year we will celebrate without my sister being present, but I'm sure she will be with us in spirit and somehow make her presence known as she has today (while I've been sitting at the coffee shop pondering what to write).  ​​

Having a "different" sort of Thanksgiving celebration was an obvious choice to me.  A choice I made because there will be a void and I know that.  I'm aware that this happens to all of us at some point in time and that with time comes healing, life does go on and while the "firsts" of the first year don't mean that there won't be more firsts because there will be.  Many before me have experienced this and many after me will continue to have the experience.  Death is a part of life, but that doesn't mean that the rest of us die as well.  We choose to stay stagnant or move forward to celebrate life, both theirs and ours and so it goes.........I choose to celebrate, to continue living, to lead by example to move forward, to allow myself sad days, but moreover, happy ones for there is much to live for and much still to do.  I am #blessedbeyond​.

In the coming days, weeks and months, there will be changes to this website and to Hand in Hand as I begin moving in a different direction.  A direction in which I hope will be of help to me and so many others for you see, when I was a younger version of who I am today, it was my hope to help just one person.  My belief was that helping just one person would enable that person to help one person and that person to help one person and so it would go - everyone paying it forward and banding together.  Many would say I'm an idealist in my views, perhaps that's true, but it's my choice and one I choose to live by.

And so it goes...

What will be the change and choice for you today and what opportunities will they bring?
​