Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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The fact that we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a nation and as a community across borders is a testament to our ability as people to learn from our mistakes and to become better human beings in the process.

Even as we face the litany of challenges before us today, from gross injustices against the most vulnerable people in our world to assaults against our ecosystems and our planet, I am hopeful that “individuals” will make a a “world” of difference and will help change the tide. As long as we can as a country of diverse views and opinions continue to honor a man and a visionary like Martin Luther King, I’m hopeful.

In honor of Dr. King, I’ve pasted below a segment of one of the most moving speeches I have ever heard in my life–Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. I’ve also provided a link to the YouTube video for you to listen this moving speech.

…Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

Here is a link to the entire speech.

A Christmas Greeting and a Wish

It’s here. That day that generates feelings and sentiments of love, joy and community – no matter your faith or personal philosophy. What a wonder that one day, one season, one story… has been able to have such a universal impact for such a long period of time.

As a global community we represent such rich and beautiful cultures, faiths and traditions – no one better or more meaningful than the other. Where I live there are hundreds of cultures and faith groups working and living together. Yet within all this diversity there is one constant tradition, behavior or mannerism, I have noticed that transcends color of skin or nationality. It is the instinctive human response to care and to respond with respect to another living being, another person.

I like to think of that as part of our common heritage, some bond that predates us and our societies and is present, even through some of our darkest moments in history and in the present. We have to remember that spirit is there…somewhere.

My gift to you is a blessing, a kind of wish that I found…from one cultural tradition to so many others…

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God’s peace to you.

Merry Christmas!

Baby It’s Cold Outside

This morning we received a literal truckload of snow. I love it! Made my husband a cup of coffee, put on my Christmas music and gazed out our bay window while the mister shoveled the driveway.

My kids are loving it too and are praying for a snow day tomorrow. For those with kids too young for school or who haven’t had the pleasure of a school snow day – this means no school and you better find something for your kids to do.

I had to shake my head. I’m sure we use to get much more snow back when I was a kid and there were no “snow days.” I know I’m sounding like everyone’s grandparent talking about how rough things were in the good ‘ol days, but what’s with this mass hysteria the minute we get some snow?

Yes it makes driving a little treacherous, so you take your time. Basically if you live in the northern part of our continent, that’s just life at this time of year (unless we’re having one of our heat waves that are due to global warming).

This morning I tried to watch my regular Sunday morning network news show and it was preempted so that we could stare at the Boston local station’s no-name news crew repeat no less than 450 times that it was snowing outside. Totally annoying!

Well one good thing about days like this is it puts us in the mood to do all kinds of “seasonal” things that we often only talk about, like:

• Arranging to meet with friends we haven’t seen in a while
• Baking cookies for those friends and families that will be coming over
• Sitting inside, TOGETHER, with family over hot drinks and good CONVERSATION, and
• Thinking over the past year and making plans for business and personal goals for the new year

The Gift of the Present

Lately I’ve been having very long days between work, kids’ commitments after school, family visits and then again more work. It seems I’m out at the crack of dawn and back well after the sun has set.

We put so much effort into getting our home all comfy and welcoming for Christmas, but we’re hardly enjoying it ourselves.

When things get like this I develop such a yearning to just hunker down at home with my favorite people and things.

I’d like to end one of my work schedules early one day, call everyone home, put a tray of my favorite shortbread cookies in the oven, make a cup of hot chocolate with nutmeg, put on some beautiful Christmas music, and relax with family.

Sometimes we’re so busy getting ready for the holidays and laboring at projects so that we can enjoy the holidays, that we “busy” our way right THROUGH the season.

So here’s a friendly reminder…extend your holiday enjoyment by taking time, as soon as you can, to enjoy and appreciate the blessings that are present before you: your family, friends, home…and a good merlot!

Let Your Light Shine

I never grow tired of looking at homes all decked out for the holidays. Conservation is important but you have to admit homes lit up with lights are a boost to the spirit!

Perhaps some of the blinking “Vegas type” homes are a bit much and may be missing the point of all of this, but you can’t fault folks for stepping out of the ordinary to celebrate just a little with their community.

Homes decorated with holiday trimmings are like a warm public greeting to people who pass by. Regardless of your religious affiliation or non-affiliation, the pure human desire to share good wishes, kindness and joy with each other at this time of year is a welcome change. I’m certain this all serves a good purpose that lasts long into the new year.

And just when we begin to forget the feeling we’ve generated, we get to repeat it all over again.

The Season for Dressing Up and Going Out

Are you taking advantage of the wonderful evening events in your town new urban mom?

After we had kids our evening social life took a serious dive. We’d make the odd feeble attempt to go out on the town but between arranging for baby sitters and me slowly growing out of my slinky evening clothes, “stepping out” became “staying in.”

During the last few years we’ve re-awakened our glamour puss selves and made the effort to dress up for a night out.

During the holidays there are even more wonderful opportunities to make it a dressy family night out. Before you start frowning just think about it…

First there’s the Nutcracker Ballet. Don’t worry about falling asleep…there are outstanding productions out there to be seen and if you haven’t gone out much you’ll be so busy looking at all the new fashions and improvements they’ve made in theatre chairs that you should be able to survive the performance without napping.

I did a quick scan of some of the other neat Holiday activities going on in cities across the country that may give you more ideas. [Read more]

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