Ode to our troops revisited and the Purple Heart

Yesterday was Veteran's Day.  It was a day to honor our troops from all branches of service.  For me, it was a particularly memorable day as I had the opportunity to see my cousin perform in the 6th Annual Heatherwood Follies, a

Salute to the Troops at the Heatherwood Assisted Living Facility.  I had seen this show 3 years ago pre-Covid and it was wonderful to return again to see a cousin/resident sing her first solo "On Top of the World" and for her it was.  See my original post here.  

On my way home from the show I heard a very troubling story on Rachel Maddow MSNBC and this made the event all the more special.  During the prior administration there was a raid in Iran on the US Military Base ( January 2020.)  This was downplayed by the Trump administration to make it appear that there was minimal damage which could hurt politically.  Evidence is now coming out that over 100 troops suffered traumatic brain injury from this incident and many more were seriously injured.  The damage was downplayed during the remarks with the President a few days later.  Only a few were considered eligible to file for Purple Hearts at the time.  This is extremely troubling in that we should all honor and do what we can to make our Troops a priority in receiving full medical care.  They deserve recognition for their hard work and commitment to put their lives on the line to protect each of us.

We are in the midst of a crisis to our democracy and country. Subpoenas to understand the insurrection on January 6 are being ignored by key witnesses.  Seriousness of war casualties during the prior administration were underplayed to make a political statement.  We all need to wake up and be aware of what is going on around us.  We cannot let these little things slip by us.  Our future will depend on all of us speaking up for our beliefs and support of those who are in positions to protect each of us.  Thanksgiving is coming soon.  This is a time of year to think about gratitude and appreciation.  We all need to step back and reflect on the direction we want for our future and appreciate those who will fight to protect these values.  

With Gratitude I wish to thank our troops and those willing to speak up to defend our democracy.  

Wendy is a Realtor and freelance writer. She recently published her first book Coffee Connections: Finding Common Ground with My Daily Brew.

Here's to a little gratitude!!

Sometime last November I read an article in the Huffington Post about the importance of teaching gratitude to children.  I often think about this concept and wish to share a few thoughts as the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches. 

The article referenced above teaches us that those who are able to express gratitude for what they have, seem to possess a much more positive outlook on life.   In a recent article in Prevention Magazine author Jennifer King Lindley connects the positive affects of gratitude with the benefits of long term health.  She terms it Vitamin G.  This mindset can then be carried into one's daily life to think and work better.  

According to a study at Berkeley University  in November 2010 

Gratitude allows us to celebrate the present. It magnifies positive emotions. Research on emotion shows that positive emotions wear off quickly. ... We spend so much time watching things—movies, computer screens, sports—but with gratitude we become greater participants in our lives as opposed to spectators.

I read Eckart Tolle's book, The Power of Now about 15 years ago and it had a huge impact on me.  Back then, the concept of mindfulness training was relatively new.  At the time I was pretty wound up and definitely high strung.   As I read, I began incorporating concepts of the book into dealing with a difficult family situation.   I found this helped ease much of my stress and as a result I learned how to shift my attitude to become better focused in the present. 

For those who embrace yoga, often, part of the routine includes taking a moment to give thanks for the opportunity to practice.  At the conclusion of class, my instructor always suggests "taking this wonderful yoga feeling into the rest of the day."  The feeling of gratitude is incorporated into this practice.  It allows me a time to cleanse my thoughts and kick start a positive framework to begin each new day.  Even if you don't do yoga, little things like taking a walk or meditating for a few minutes allow positive thoughts of gratitude to flow through your head to create a much better mindset.   For some it is a great idea to keep a journal of things you around you that create positivity.  This creates a framework for expressing gratitude.  

Yesterday I was hit with this theme again when I saw this months cover on The Oprah Magazine titled "How Gratitude Shifts Your Attitude".    I believe that we would be much happier as a country if we all looked for the positive in our lives.  Those who dwell in the past often hold anger and need to let it go.  This negativity can be damaging and inhibit one's ability to focus on what is important today.  It's the little things that bring brightness to ourselves that deserve gratitude.   We all face life's challenges but if we are able to appreciate the good it is easier to work through the bad stuff.  

As we approach the holiday this week,  think about the things you are thankful for and how to better shape your attitude by embracing a bit more gratitude.   

Wishing you and your family's a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.

Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She  is thankful for the opportunity to help others through work and as a volunteer in her community.