Yesterday's walk...

Sometimes.... you have people you want to help. You want to hold them up ad make everything better. But they may be too far away, or surrounded by so many who love them, the most you can do is... want to help. My solution is walking.

When I walk, and I think about what it is I am accomplishing, it makes me feel as though I AM doing something healing. It was interesting to read the update from the little girl's family today saying, if you want to help, do something good for someone today. Do it for our daughter. Do it in her name. Some random act of kindness, or just looking on someone with kinder eyes.

Humbling .....

I am blessed beyond measure. I live in the most amazing place in the world. I am healthy and powerful and have fantastic friends and family.
So in the light of the kinder gentler idea.... this is the steps that worker was napping by when I made some disparaging comment about government workers... He did a good job.

I stopped at Cavallo Point and had a muffin and coffee because I am so grateful they have donated not once but twice to our event.

I am grateful to see children loving the sand and sea, enjoying the sun and life.

I am grateful we have the Bridge and the bay and so much beauty.

I remember when I moved back to the bay area when I married Glenn. Coming from Southern California I was in awe of the flowers and the freshness of everything around me and I still am.

I am grateful to be able to connect with the water and the world through sailing. I am so blessed to see my husband's face when he is on a boat.

Blessed to know they will be keeping the bridge safe....

I feel blessed to know that when I struggle to face the challenges in life, I am like a tug boat who gets some help from the people in her life.

I am glad to know I can look at life and see how different it can be from someone else's lenses.

I am grateful to know I can cross the bridge, take photos of tourists and give them a photo to remember.

I love to find the beauty in small things and feel so lucky to have some many in the course of a 12 mile walk.

I like how when I look at kids playing I remember how blessed we have been with two healthy daughters who are wise and wonderful.

I am blessed to come from a rich history, and to be connected to a family whose roots are deep in San Francisco.

We all are blessed to know that the America's Cup is coming to Sf and we can share with the world the magic of where we live.

I feel lucky to know that even those things that have been around for years and years and people who have been a round for years and years can be improved, and grow and remain relevant.

But I feel blessed to know the richness of age is something you have to earn. I wish for everyone that luxury.

When I looked at my watch at this point in the walk I realized in order to make the 12:55 ferry I couldn't delay, I had to hustle. I am grateful to be able to walk fast enough to catch a ferry without hurting myself.

Try this tomorrow. Try finding those things you are grateful for and acknowledge them.

AND BUY YOUR TICKET for July 29th and our HUGE party.

www.CheerstoaCure.com

Giving Thanks.

It's the season.

When the girls were little, we would go around the table and each say the one thing that we are thankful for that year. Sounds like a silly exercise. "I am grateful that I passed my math exam. " "I am happy to have two front teeth." But it is an important part of living life. Giving thanks.

This morning I had breakfast with my good friend Patti. I haven't been able to see Patti in a while since she is working two jobs while juggling life at home and checking in with and visiting with her 93 year old Mother in Colfax. Missing my dear gal friend with who I can share the daily ups and downs, I began to catch her up on the life and times of the Younglings.

I noticed the tone of what I said began to sound a bit like complaining - the girls are too far away - the plane tickets are expensive. Money is tight. I haven't been able to walk as much as I'd like. I feel like I am getting old...etc etc. You get the picture. I neglected to say this;

I love waking up to the beauty of where I live. The fog laying like a blanket covering the lush oaks of Tennessee Valley while the sound of the turkeys warble in the air. Glad that I can go outside and not have to scrape snow off my car. Thankful for my new little hybrid (even though it is really black not blue). Blessed to have a man sharing my life with whom I am still madly in love and who I respect deeply and enjoy thoroughly. I am thankful that my life is so bountiful, I haven't known true want ever. Thankful that our children are bright and beautiful and have a life of great promise in their hands. I am blessed that they still want to share some of that life with us. We are lucky to have extended family who like each other and even though miles separate us, we are strongly connected. I am blessed that whenever we do get together there is inevitably laughter and joy.

My friends are to me, such a gift. They are there with me through all of the trials of life. But they are also there when there is not much to say. They have stood by me, and me them. Throughout the 3 day, many have walked with me, more have supported me and all have inspired me. To them I am very thankful.

I am thankful for being born into a country whose core values of individuality are tempered by the common good. I am blessed to have a profession where I can help people reach the fundamental goal of owning a home. I feel lucky that people trust me to ease transitions and make the most of things for them. I am thrilled when I can provide the best for the best of my clients.

The ways in which I am blessed go on and on and on. Each day I wake up look in the mirror and remember just how lucky I have been.

So this Thanksgiving, even though it will be quiet and we won't all be together, remember this Thanksgiving, the one thing I am grateful for is you. Thank you for being a part of my life.