Thoughts on July 4th

My family immigrated to the USA in the early 1970s. The first place we landed was New York City. I had never seen anything like it. It was enormous, vibrant, loud, spectacular.

We moved to Michigan literally the day after we arrived and settled just outside Detroit. I acclimated pretty quickly and learned English within a couple of months (no ESL program in our schools meant immersion learning for me). 

In some ways, it felt like this country fit me like a glove. In other ways, I have a feeling I will always feel a little other, a little different. Some of my original culture (former Soviet Union) and some of the cultures of where we lived in the year-long immigration process during my formative years rubbed off on me and impact how I act, react, feel, and live to this day.

Regardless, this country, this vast, magical, creative, sometimes brutal, often magnificent land welcomed me (and my family) into its great big salad bowl of a nation. I am grateful.

Happy July 4th. May all beings be free to live, love, and pursue happiness.

Mother's Day and every day, we thrive.

I wish a happy Mother's Day to all of you who guide, protect, and love others. Some of you are biologically moms. Some adopt (humans and others). Some work with kids and help them thrive. Some have that nurturing energy and give it to those in need.

I send you my wishes that you are loved and appreciated this day and every day.

I read somewhere recently that a mother's love gives her child the ultimate sense of belonging and that children who don't have that vital love feel its lack for all the days of their lives.

I respectfully disagree. I think we can overcome even that giant obstacle. As long as we remind ourselves that we have the right to exist, that we deserve to be here, to be alive and to thrive, we can find that sense of belonging within ourselves.

I send this wish out to those of you who didn't have loving mothering. May you always remember that simply by the fact that you are here, you deserve to be here, you are loved, and you belong.

We are enough. We have enough. We do enough.

So may it be.