Last night I watched the Michelle Obama special. She spoke of many things, but one topic she touched on several times resonated with me. She said, "I don't have any complaints."
After she spent time with military families, with their frequent moves and the obstacles and loss they deal with, she said, "I can't complain because of my little problems."
When her daughters started to whine about the ever-present Secret Service agents, she and President Obama would shut them down immediately. Too much security and being too safe? Not a problem.
During this time of year, we might be tempted to complain about the craziness of the holiday, about all the last minute stuff we have to do. We might moan and groan about the cold weather. We might gripe about how our money isn't stretching as far as we'd like (to cover the expense of gift-giving).
However, if we have family and friends and get-togethers to look forward to... we're lucky.
If we have a warm house to come home to, if we have a bed with blankets and pillows to settle into at night... we're fortunate...
... because there are many people who don't have those things.
Consider keeping some packaged food in your car during the next week or so, for the homeless. Some granola bars, muffins, beef jerky--whatever you'd like. Then, when you're stopped at a busy corner and there's a homeless person, you can at least help them out in a small way.
On Thursday Radar and I will be at Half-Price Books in University City all day. He'll be begging for bellyrubs and pettings. I will be begging for donations to Love a Golden Rescue. Our group will be there on the 23rd and the 24th as well. Most of the time--except on the afternoon of Christmas Eve--it will be me wrapping the gifts, and on the morning of the 24th it will be a different dog. If you have the chance, go book shopping. I'll be glad to wrap up your purchase before you go... and whatever golden retriever is there, they'll gladly roll over for a belly rub...
... 'Cause goldens (who are lucky enough to be in good homes) are certainly livin' the good life...
