Three years ago I went on the most incredible adventure of my life, and in a way it has continued until this day.
It began with a flight from New York City to India.
My mother, sister, and soon to be brother went to the airport with me. My father had to work, but he'd already given me a great gift for my journey, the Iroquois nation's Words Before All Else: Thanksgiving Address. He said it summarized his beliefs better than any other group had stated before. It thanks the people, the waters, the sun, the moon, the creator, the enlightened teachers, the animals, the plants, and everything they believe deserves thanking for the giving they've done before we do the taking from them. It says this about where we live, the Earth:
Before my mother said good bye to me, she gave me two envelopes. She said, "Open one of them when you get on the plane, and the other one at Christmas." It was December 3, and I was going to miss my first Christmas ever. I planned to be in India for two months of unplanned exploring before flying to Thailand and not coming back until my sister's wedding July 3. I didn't know that I was going to travel through ten countries for seven straight months. I didn't know I was going to do two long journeys across the United States and live in Japan for a year after that either. I had no idea just how much individual development and how many challenges were ahead of me.
When I got on the plane, I had about three hours to wait on the tarmac because of delays. During the suspense I opened the first envelope.
There was a card with a quote from Winnie the Pooh, everyone's favorite bear from childhood:
Always remember:
It began with a flight from New York City to India.
My mother, sister, and soon to be brother went to the airport with me. My father had to work, but he'd already given me a great gift for my journey, the Iroquois nation's Words Before All Else: Thanksgiving Address. He said it summarized his beliefs better than any other group had stated before. It thanks the people, the waters, the sun, the moon, the creator, the enlightened teachers, the animals, the plants, and everything they believe deserves thanking for the giving they've done before we do the taking from them. It says this about where we live, the Earth:
The Earth Mother
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life.
She supports our feet as we walk about upon her.
It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time.
To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.
Before my mother said good bye to me, she gave me two envelopes. She said, "Open one of them when you get on the plane, and the other one at Christmas." It was December 3, and I was going to miss my first Christmas ever. I planned to be in India for two months of unplanned exploring before flying to Thailand and not coming back until my sister's wedding July 3. I didn't know that I was going to travel through ten countries for seven straight months. I didn't know I was going to do two long journeys across the United States and live in Japan for a year after that either. I had no idea just how much individual development and how many challenges were ahead of me.
When I got on the plane, I had about three hours to wait on the tarmac because of delays. During the suspense I opened the first envelope.
There was a card with a quote from Winnie the Pooh, everyone's favorite bear from childhood:
Always remember:
"You're braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think."
If your birth mom hasn't told you that lately
your Earth mom is telling you now
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