Gratitude

Breathe and Be

On a recent trip to visit my dad, who is terminally ill, I went for an early morning walk on a dirt road outside his house. The recent snowfall was melting and the air was brisk and energizing. I heard a car behind me and I turned around to discover this amazing sunrise.

Though I’ve returned to Saranac many times, it was during this trip that I discovered the beauty and serenity of my childhood. My longtime home, Montgomery County, Maryland is an amazing place to live and has so many amenities - great schools, restaurants of every ethnicity, shopping, state of the art plays, concerts, and sports events. Life is hectic, fast paced, and competitive.

My dad lives on a dirt road with four other homes and a buffalo farm. Weeks Road is named after the Weeks family who settled on this road. Saranac doesn’t have a grocery store or a Chinese restaurant. You won’t find a movie theater or a Walmart. There is no public transportation, Uber, or Lyft. You won’t find a traffic light. People wave and know your name. But you will find magnificent sunrises and silence.

Listen to the silence. Feel the space around you. Breathe and be. Just as you are.

On this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the beauty and serenity of my childhood home. I am grateful for my family and friends. I am so grateful for you and for the richness you bring to my life. Thank you for being you!