Gratitude, Legacy, and the Power of Perseverance

Gratitude is the connection to our satisfaction in life, embracing each experience with love, empathy and resilience, while honoring our Loved Ones who have gone before us.

November invites us to cherish our experiences with Loved Ones and reflect on what we’re most grateful for. We are not only grateful for the things we have, but for the people whose sacrifices contributed to a more abundant life. for those they touched. When you give your time with love, you become a vessel for abundance in someone else’s life.

Volunteering your time can be an incredibly rewarding experience serving others with love and dignity fills the heart with gratitude, abundance and a sense of connection. My husband, Mike, and I recently volunteered at the Hackensack Shelter through Family Promise, a nonprofit organization, where we served hot meals to those in need. The experience reminded us of how truly fortunate we are.

An abundant life is “A life that is full, meaningful, and spiritually rich, characterized by joy, purpose, and a deep connection with God. It’s not solely about material wealth or physical well-being, but rather a state of wholeness and fulfillment that comes from a relationship with God.”

Family Celebrations

November is also a season to celebrate family, enjoy delicious food, and to reflect. As we gather to share a meal and celebrate time with Loved Ones. We also remember those who came before us. Our ancestors, our elders, and the brave souls that helped others stay alive and become hopeful for a better tomorrow.

Do you have a story of inspiration that you would like to share?

One story that has always inspired me is the Native Americans because without them the Pilgrims would have not survived that first harsh winter when they came to a new land seeking freedom of religion. The Native Americans’ generosity and empathy made the first Thanksgiving possible. And it gave the Pilgrims that made it that first year hope for a better tomorrow.

The impact of connection in our lives

Thanksgiving is a powerful reminder that when we connect with one another regardless of ethnicity, language and social economic status and see each other as souls, we thrive and fill each other with love.

Never give up on your dreams

And there’s another woman whose story I always remember this time of year: Sarah Josepha Hale. She wrote letters after letter, over 1,000.00 letters and 30 years of campaigning to make Thanksgiving a national holiday for all to celebrate today. Her persistence changed history and is a reminder never to give up. Whether it’s a social issue, family, faith, healing or a dream you’ve carried in your heart for a while. It's never too late to start focusing on what matters to you.

This month, I’m grateful for people like Sarah and the opportunity to spend more time with my daughters and husband, Mike, and for all the helpers and healers in our lives. I am grateful for your support, love and comments

Also, I am thankful for my late husband, Ed, because without my time with him, I would not be the person that I am today.

What are you grateful for this season? Feel free to create a list and share it here!

Take a moment to say it out loud, or better yet tell someone.

Novena of Love and Remembrance

On November 1st, we commemorated the Day of the Dead/All Souls Day with a sacred time to remember and pray for our departed Loved Ones. On October 24th, I shared a Novena to honor the memory of our Loved Ones and to celebrate the eternal bond we share with them. The novena was open to all who wished to join in prayer and remembrance. The photos and names lovingly shared with me now rest upon the Wall of Remembrance at St. Anthony’s Church, where they are lifted in our prayers and surrounded by light and love for the entire month of November.