I tell wonder-filled stories about hope and healing
Birthdays are declarations that we’re here now and in some way, however small, the world will be different as a result of our presence. I’ll be watching the fireworks on the Mall tonight with friends (provided the rain holds off) and when those colors flash across the sky I’m going to think about how lucky we are that we get to live in a country that fervently believes in the power of new beginnings and our ability to make a difference.
Hoppy Easter from the Easter Dachshund!
Have you ever started over from zero? I’ve learned to not be afraid of these times. With seemingly nothing left, just being able to keep going is a remarkable feat. To still believe in a better tomorrow, despite a grim today, is an act of courage and strength. That’s what this season teaches us.
With all of these holidays about renewal coalescing—Easter, Passover, and Spring—I’m reminded of what it means and what it takes to begin again with faith and hope. During these times, we find in ourselves a wellspring of untapped potential that we would never know existed if life always handed us an easy road.
To be down to nothing and look up to find a hand, a smile, and a heart willing to help us when we can do nothing for them in this moment is a remarkable gift. Some days I’m the one who’s down to nothing and looking up for help. Other days I’m the one who provides the hand up to someone else. I’m grateful for all of the opportunities I have in each role. They’re all blessings.
From my heart to yours, happy Easter, happy Passover, and happy Spring.
In honor of the holiday, here are some fun pieces of Christmas trivia. Enjoy!
-When Dr. Seuss wrote How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it took him 3 months to figure out the ending. Finally, he got a flash of an image that depicted the Grinch sitting at the Who dinner table carving the roast beast and he wrote backward from there.
– Some people advised Charles Schulz to remove the scene in A Charlie Brown Christmas where Linus tells the story of Christ’s birth because they thought it was too religious for a children’s movie. Schulz insisted on leaving it in.
– Some legends trace the making of the first candy canes to India while others trace them to Germany.
– Santa Claus was a saint who lived in what is now Turkey in the 300s.
– The Statue of Liberty was a Christmas present from France to the U.S.
– While some people think Xmas is sacrilegious, it’s not at all. It comes from Greece and the Greek symbol “X” means Christ.
– 1:3 people in the world celebrate Christmas.
– The retailer Montgomery Ward brought Rudolph to the public eye. It was written by Robert L. May, a copywriter for the company. The retail chain distributed 2.4 million copies of it in booklet form during the 1939 holiday season. Rudolph’s original name was Rollo. The executives at the company didn’t like the name, and May’s daughter gave him the idea of the name Rudolph.
– Charles Dickens wrote the novella A Christmas Carol in six weeks.
– If you’re an aspiring Santa, there’s a school for that. Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School is in Midland, Michigan.
I love Norman Rockwell. I love Peanuts. So, I really love this painting. Happy Thanksgiving from my nutty house to yours!
Halloween is a powerful holiday. We can literally walk around in someone else’s shoes for a night. I love the idea of giving up practicality for the evening and fully investing in our wackiest, most creative ideas. It’s an excuse to indulge in personal reinvention. Dress up, eat candy, dance around, and have fun!
So this is how the Easter Bunny stays in such good shape. A little rabbit asana. Hoppy Easter, everyone! Enjoy the day.
The year of the horse began Friday night as the world ushered in the Lunar New Year. What’s in it for you? Fasten your seatbelt – it’s going to be exciting and fast-paced for everyone!
International Business Times offers this prediction:
“For those born on the year of the horse, they will encounter the Year of Birth (Benming Nian). It is believed they will offend Taisui, the god in charge of fortune, so their finances may fluctuate. In terms of career, it is advised to keep the peace between colleagues.
For those not born on a horse year, the year ahead will bring health and prosperity. It is said to be an excellent time to travel, as the next 12 months will bring good luck. You are advised to mingle with the locals, savour authentic cuisine and discover somewhere you have never been before.”
Luck, travel, good health, prosperity, and authenticity. Sounds good to me!
“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” ~ W.J. Cameron.
There is so much to do on Thanksgiving. So much to consider, celebrate, and embrace. We’re cooking, setting the table, welcoming guests, traveling, and giving thanks. I’m thankful for all of you because we cheer each other on, encourage one another, and keep the light going in every circumstance. Every day I feel more fortunate than I did the day before and that’s because of you. Wherever you are, whatever you do, whomever you’re with today, I hope you find love and gratitude and joy in every single moment. Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Halloween. May all your candy-getting, scare-inducing dreams come true. My Halloween costume? Karma baby. Karma. Be safe, trick-or-treaters!
Christa Avampato 