Being of Native American heritage, I use in my title a native saying that represents an interesting idea. Although quite obvious to some, it means that one should try and imagine placing themselves in someone else’s shoes to get a good accurate view of that person’s life in hope to bring understanding of that person. Another way of looking at this idea is to say,’ view with compassion’.

My mother’s smell is the last thing I embrace as I take my excited but weary self off to bed. She’s been in the kitchen all night preparing food for the next day. My home is nothing but Christmas perfection! My mother reigns supreme at creating ambiance. The tree is stunning and the presents at its base come out at least four feet because of our large family of nine persons. Christmas carols play continuously on the stereo.

I’ve just finished watching “Scrooge” on the TV with my older brothers, and although it scares me so, I love it annually. I make my way through the kitchen and into the family room, which is dimly lit to show the tree and lights around the windows. The outside cold is unfelt by me in my cozy home of family memories. I walk past the candy tree – a fantastic favorite each year...

A few days ago an idea came to my mind, and so I took a piece of poster paper and placed it up in a common area of our home.   I wrote in big letters at the top of it, “I am thankful for…” and left a black marker there for anyone to use. I added a couple words straight away myself. I’ve enjoyed walking past this poster each day as my four children add what they are grateful for onto the paper.   Some things surprise me, but they all make me smile. Life is good!

We usually take a few minutes during our Thanksgiving dinner to state out loud around the table what we are thankful for.  It brings meaning to eating so abundantly and makes us remember the less fortunate, family, and friends and what life is truly about.

But Thanksgiving is just one day, and we can give thanks any day of the year...

Being in the media business, I know how fast word can now spread across the globe in this modern day. If you watch television news, you will know what I mean.   With today’s technology, news travels at the blink of an eye.   This is a wonderful tool for good – for informing one another of grave dangers, or spreading good cheer. Unfortunately with the good, also comes the bad.

To someone who prefers to uplift, than pull down, the grave news can be very disheartening and overwhelming at times.   Now, not only can I find out what ills plague my own community or country, but I can get detailed reports, or graphic videos or photos online of terrible things happening in other parts of the world...