Thanksreceiving

So today on this day of Thanks in the United States, I have been pondering…… I received wonderful emails, I took my time to give thanks and I am in a space of contemplation. 

When we go through difficult times in life, like divorce, the end of relationship, or other difficult events, it can be hard to feel thankful and feel real about that thankfulness.  We know it is something we are supposed to do but truly deep down are we thankful or are we covering up other feelings (sadness, anger,etc.) by saying we are thankful?  I am a person who deeply values honesty and I believe it is crucial to be honest with ourselves.  It is imporatnt to be real. 

For me today what is the truth for me is that my true thanks came from receiving.  When we go through a challenging time, we need to receive.  We need to receive love and support from others.  Truly, we must also receive this love and support from ourselves.  In speaking with my wonderful friend Susan today, I received from her and this allowed me to feel  truly grateful.  Sometimes, in challenging times we truly do not have much to give so I believe we must focus on receiving for a while until we can once again give.  I give a lot to others but sometimes I have been made aware that I do not always receive so well.   I know this is something I want to focus on more in the future. 

It is so important to focus on receiving, being patient with ourselives, forgiving ourselves, and allowing ourselves to have  emotions.   During challenging times we must receive compassion from ourselves.  We must allow ourselves to be human with all our issues, faults, unperfect behaviors and mistakes that we make.  We are perfect as we are. 

This  Thanksgiving I ask you to sit in contemplation and be compassionate with you, the most perfect person with all your human faults and issues.  You are perfect just as you are.  Once you truly receive  this, you are on the road to compassion, first for you and then for others.   With compassion, all things are possible.    May you receive all things possible for you in this lifetime.