ACKNOWLEDGING SELF

"Learn to be what you are... and to resign with good grace all that you are not." 

~ Henri Frederic Amiel ~

I acknowledge myself for being human- for having a big heart and big dreams, for having been hurt and having been blessed, for being loving and caring and working hard.
     I have come through difficulty and not been discouraged by it, failed in business and started anew. I have been steady and strong and willing and eager. I have done my best and admitted many wrongs.

I am what I am, and I'm not what I'm not- complete in being human.

ACKNOWLEDGING MY DAUGHTER

"To send light into the darkness of mans' hearts- such is the duty of the artist." 

~ Schumann ~

I acknowledge my daughter, Sienna, for completing four years of college; for remaining true to her art even when she was misunderstood; for being a visionary, a creator on every level of her life, and an embodiment of the wild feminine.
     I acknowledge her for courage, heart, and willingness, and for being an individual on this earth who makes a difference in the lives of others.

I am inspired by the power of creative vision against all odds.

ACKNOWLEDGING MY SON

"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself." ~ Kahlil Gibran ~

I acknowledge my son, Nick, today for a personal milestone of significance, for facing what was scary and unpleasant to face, for soldiering on with determination, resilience, and an open mind no matter what, for owning his part in his life experience, and for achieving a goal that matters.
   

I honor achievement and acknowledge the work that it took.

ACKNOWLEDGING PARTNERS

"A partner is someone who makes you more than you are, simply by being by your side." 

~ Albert Kim ~

I acknowledge my husband for being the perfect mix of sensitivity and toughness, for being an excellent communicator, a creative problem solver, a loyal protector, and a man of his word. I acknowledge him for kindness, for compassion, for equal partnership, and for grand adventure! He is just right exactly the way he is, and I am blessed to share my life with him. :)

I celebrate loving partnership!

ACKNOWLEDGING FATHERS

"He didn't tell me how to live. He lived, and let me watch him do it." 

~ Clarence Budington Kelland ~

I acknowledge my father for providing structure in my life, for raising me with a sense of right and wrong, and for teaching me to read powerfully out loud. I acknowledge him for being brave, unique, creative, and principled; for valuing education, being willing to pay for things of quality, and standing for what matters. I acknowledge him for all the things he's taught me by being who he is, and for his having been willing to take risks over and over in his life.
     Today is his Birthday, and I thank him for all of the years past, and wish him well-being in all of the years to come.

I am thankful for my father.

ACKNOWLEDGING MOTHERS

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." 

~ Horace de Balzac ~

I acknowledge my mother for her contribution to my life; for her enthusiasm, integrity, courage, and resilience; for her driving me all over as a kid, teaching me what mattered, being encouraging, and appreciating me for who I am and loving me in spite of all my mis-adventures.
     I am grateful that she never lost faith in me, and for all the ways that she has positively impacted my life.

I recognize the contribution of my own mother, and of mothers all over the world.

CONFRONTATION

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing." 

~ August Wilson ~

I have always considered myself a "non-confrontational" individual, and I am realizing lately that may not be true, and also that it is through confrontation that we evolve.
     When we confront death and our own mortality, we transform the way we live. When we confront the impact of our negative behavior on the condition of our lives, we can alter our behavior. We we confront what limits us, we can become unlimited. But it has to be a hard confrontation. A mini-acknowledgement that throws blame at others gets us nowhere. Confrontation, by its definition, creates discomfort in us. That discomfort is what we avoid, and ironically, that discomfort is the very thing that can ultimately set us free.

I confront the reality of how I am in the world and what it gets me.