The month of November is designated as Native American Heritage Month. It’s also the month that holds the national Thanksgiving holiday. This time of year brings up so many thoughts and mixed emotions for me. I’m blessed to be in a community of people at NEW who help me give these feelings voice. So, I’m giving thanks and giving credit to them.

When I’ve done or am doing something out of alignment, a pit begins to open in the center of my chest. I feel myself being sucked into a vortex of never-ending depth. And as I’m dragged down, anxiety comes flooding up. It spills down the tributaries of my appendages until I can feel it coursing through my entire body. It’s consuming, a poison that takes over my mind and sends me spiraling into doubt and hopelessness.

Recently, I went through a box stuffed with cards I have received over the years. Some from birthdays, graduations, moving, and souvenirs from places others have visited. Things can get buried in there, and every once in a while it’s nice to go through and relive memories. To get lost in past celebrations and travels.