This could well be one of my shorter posts, but please don’t hold me to it as we all know what happens when I make rash promises!

As days go, this one was fairly uneventful.  I got up, ate a small breakfast, fed the cats (as if they’d let me forge that!), went to the gym, ran an errand, waited endlessly for AT & T’s repairman to show up to, as it turns out, replace my old, worn out modem, did some chores, went dancing and came home. 

I’m searching for inspiration hither and yon, but nothing has yet made my fingers go flying across the keyboard with wit, wisdom or even mindless babbling.    Even when I tried to meditate today, my mind was pretty much a muddle, not settling on any particular topic, but overwhelmed with too many to sort out.

Which is probably what has me clogged up at the moment.  Have you ever had so many thoughts going through your brain that it was impossible to sort them one from another, or make any sense out of the tangle?  Imagine that each thought is a very fine thread and all of the threads have managed to wrap around each other, forming twists and knots so complex they are impossible to trace.  As a result, you have, in every square inch, a wad of completely unrelated threads all twisted together into a gigantic knot.  The only viable way out of the tangle is with a knife or a pair of scissors, though the likelihood that any whole or even recognizable part of a thread  will remain is pretty slim.

That’s where I am right now, but mentally.  I have a million thoughts running around in my head, mostly unrelated in any way.  They have to do with everything from tomorrow’s vet visit to tasks I need to complete at work on Monday to which gym workouts I have to do when, to grocery shopping and other errands, to, well, to what do I want to do for the rest of my life?

On my mind is also the woman from our dance community who is, quite literally, in a fight for her life.  I can’t deny that it impacts all of us, both from the standpoint of feeling helpless to make things better for one of our own, even if we don’t know her well, but also as a reminder to be grateful for our health every single day.   I’ve seen way too many instances where not only one person’s course, but the courses of every life they touch are changed irrevocably.

I think most of us would be surprised by how much our lives affect others.  I know that I, for one, believe I could count the lives I truly impact on one hand.  Is that reality?  I have no idea, but I think that a lot of the people I know underestimate their own value significantly.

It might be something small like being that person who remembers a sales clerk’s name or it could be world shaking like inventing a cure for cancer.  But regardless of how big or small, each of us really does make a difference. 

New people have an impact on my life every day, now.  Whether it’s a comment from one of the UBCers or someone in a store who helped me figure something out, or someone who just did something nice for no reason.  They’re out there and they’re performing random acts of kindness every minute of every day,.  They’re giving us things to think about, helping us learn new lessons, reminding us to be grateful in a bazillion different ways! 

Even tonight as I sat on a barstool, leaning against the window because my vision had gone squirrelly and I was trying to avoid the migraine that would follow if I didn’t take precautions, I could feel the love and concern from my kids and friends, despite the fact that I had to keep my eyes closed until it passed. 

The dance community really are wonderful people.  We share in each others’ joys and sorrows, are concerned when someone is missing without explanation, celebrate milestones big and small, notice when one of us is not their usual self and lend that shoulder when it’s needed, but don’t force ourselves on someone who might need time to work things out for themselves.  We’re all just “there” for whatever is needed. 

I think it’s that sensitivity which really makes us feel connected.  Often times, you don’t even have to say anything and you can feel the love and support, there for the asking!  Being a part of this community is truly a privilege and an honor. 

For now, I know our hearts are all open, but I, for one, am going to keep mine filled with positive energy so that those who are ill or otherwise facing challenges will have a well to draw from when there’s is tapped out.

My gratitiudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful for a community where people help each other in any way they can.
2. I am grateful for my health.
3. I am grateful for the power of positive energy.
4. I am grateful for migraines that come with early warning signs so painful headaches can be avoided.
5. I am grateful for love in all of its shapes, sizes and colors.  It truly can change the world for the better.

Love and light,