"Hi, my name is Jim Jones. What about you? What do you do?” This wouldn't be uncommon banter at a business meeting or even a casual encounter. Very often, if not most often, people are identified by "what” they do. Epitaphs concern themselves with the accomplishments of those who have passed as do obituaries. In the day-to-day busyness of our society, there seems to be little time to get to know others for "who they are”. In fact, we are so busy most often that we don't even know "who we are”. It seems that the only time we might spend some time asking this question of ourselves or others is when there is a criticism to be levied. There seems to be so little time to appreciate ourselves, our qualities, strengths and sensitivities…even our limitations.

We always seem to want more…get better…accomplish more. An exercise that is usually quite difficult for many people is to practice "living in the moment”. This means being focused and totally attuned to whatever it is we're doing, saying, feeling,

etc. to the exclusion of what happened previously or what may be about to happen. Try it! It can really help you to be more aware of yourself as a person. It might seem a little uncomfortable at first but as you continue to practice, as with anything else that you want to change or accomplish, the more comfortable you'll become.

It seems that the more we can be aware of and accept our humanness, the happier and more productive our lives become. It's not just psychological "mumbo-jumbo” but it really works. And so, maybe this Thanksgiving, in addition for all of the benefits and favors that we've received for which we are grateful, we can also be grateful for who we are. Loving ourselves and others for who we/they are is WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

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