I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Wherever you live, I hope you have fun and make many lasting memories this holiday season.
Better together
This Thanksgiving, as in years past, we hosted my sister-in-law, Stacie, my mother-in-law, Diana, and our three nieces, Haley, Tabetha, and Carmen. Our celebration this year included Jack, our niece Haley’s new husband. We’ve met him a few times over the years and enjoyed their wedding this past summer. Thanksgiving is really the first time we sat down and got to know him.
One of our traditions is to make a crunchy chicken salad for dinner on Wednesday. Everyone loves this meal, and all the girls jump in to help. This year, Jack agreed to learn how to pound the chicken flat without beating it into oblivion. Diana and the girls chopped the veggies for the salad, pulled the salad dressings from the fridge, and set the table. Blake was in charge of the music and kept the vibes right for all of us.
Pure delight
After the excitement of everyone arriving, munching on a crunchy chicken salad together around my kitchen table feels like heaven.
After dinner, everyone pitches in to clean up the dishes, and the girls and I made the pies for the next day. Working together to feed everyone is one of my favorite experiences of the whole year. Thanksgiving is the example I use to describe the feeling of abundance in my Alchemy card readings.
On Thanksgiving morning, after the kids got back from their run around the neighborhood, I showed Haley how to prepare the turkey. The bird has always been my responsibility, along with the gravy and stuffing. This year, Haley wanted to learn the process. As the oldest, she’s most likely going to be the one to carry on the tradition once the time comes for me to pass the torch. I couldn’t be prouder to see her and her sisters taking on the responsibilities. I know the joy and fun of Thanksgiving will continue for years to come.
Going with the flow
I showed Haley how to carve the bird, and she and Jack did a fine job finishing it. I made the gravy and stuffing. The kids made all of the sides and set the table. Garrett sliced the cranberry jelly from the can. LOL. We ate dinner at 2 pm, which gave us plenty of time for naps, cleaning, and taking the obligatory walk through the neighborhood.
After our walk, we did the family Christmas gift exchange.
Each person contributed a gift and drew a number to choose one. Everyone takes their turn either stealing or choosing from the pile. We had a blast, and everyone ended up with the right gift.
After the gift exchange, Stacie, the kids, and I went into my dining room, where I keep all the incredible paintings my friend and illustrator, Mary, had made for my new Boat book. These include the latest one, the Captain.
To see our whole self
Especially since Jack had not yet heard about it, I was excited to share my idea. I call it “The Boat” because it uses the parts of a ship to see the elements of our body, mind, and soul. For example, our heart is the ship’s wheel, our strength is the mast, the sail is our soul, and the beautiful lady on the front refers to our face. There are many more parts of the ship, as well as strategies for navigating through daily life, which is why I’m writing the book.
Within the gristle, blood, and bone of our humanness, there is also space. Like the air in our lungs and the synapses of our brain, within that space lives the Captain, our Higher Self. It’s our connection to the Universe, God, Allah, the Source, the Force, Vishnu, Brahma, the Big Guy in the Sky, or the Cosmic Love Muffin. It doesn’t matter what we call it. What matters is our calling.
Hey God, you got a minute?
I came up with this idea while homeschooling Garrett, since we were getting ready to move to Brazil for Blake’s work. Initially, I thought teaching second- and third-grade students would be easy. However, after a couple of months, Garrett was rebelling, and I was at the end of my rope.
After hearing myself say something hurtful to him, I became very angry with myself. I decided to take our dog, Tootsie, for a walk. As I hooked her collar to the leash, I asked no one in particular, “How am I supposed to get through this?!”
In my head, I heard the answer, “You know, your attitude is a lot like the rudder on a ship. Keep it adjusted appropriately to get where you need to go. But if it gets stuck, you’ll just go in circles, frustrating yourself and everyone around you.”
Creative, curious, compassionate, and kind
I told my family that I imagine it was my Captain steering my heart that enabled me to come up with the Boat analogy and start writing.
Looking at life through the eyes of our Captain allows us to grow and engage the powerful forces of our creativity, curiosity, compassion, and kindness. Seeing ourselves with this higher perspective changes everything. Feeling stuck can lead to the realization that we’re most powerful and capable in the present moment. One thing can change everything, and everything starts with awareness. Being lost dissolves into staying open and aware of opportunities to learn and experience something new. Having a complicated past doesn’t mean we’re broken. The Captain helps us see how we survived so that we can appreciate the joy and connection in our present even more fully.
I believe it’s our Captain at work within us as we make food, wash dishes, and do the job that makes the holidays possible. We get to feel abundant and stay present to each other while enjoying the process.
Feeling grateful
Wrapping up, I shared this new centering mantra I wrote as an answer to the question, “How am I supposed to get through this?!”
“With my hands on the ship’s wheel of my heart and attitude as my rudder, I do solemnly swear to do my very best in current circumstances. I promise to follow my Captain’s orders and be a good crewmember to my mates.”
I appreciate you reading this post.
How do you recognize your Captain? Do you have a special prayer or something to get in tune with it? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
I wish you and yours a wonderful, joyful holiday season.
xoxo Pam
P.S. I’m getting ready to make Christmas Candy. Click the link for the recipe.