Grudges. I’ve been known to keep a few. Okay, maybe more than a few. All right, all right. 1,287.
The last half of 2007, all of 2008, and most of 2009 were not good to me. One decision out of my control had a domino effect on parts of my life, leaving me resentful. The greatest casualty of all of that resentment was my well being and my creativity. The latter came and went and all but dried up on a few occasions. A writer without creativity might as well not have a soul.
This cannot continue to happen. I am letting go. I am officially forgiving all those folks who have wronged me in the past, and I asking them to forgive me.
Next: Being Thankful
This year reminded me just how short life can be. It can be gone in a moment. This year reminded me that walking around angry about something out of my control doesn’t solve the problem. Do the work, don’t fester. This year reminded me that carrying anger is hurtful and makes it difficult to move in any direction. Let it go, whatever it is, and move on.
As I close 2011 and look forward to 2012, I am apologizing for past wrongs, forgiving those who hurt me and being thankful for all that I have. Maybe it’s corny. Maybe it’s a little “out there.” I’m hoping it frees me and allows me to soar in 2012.
So, here goes:
I am so sorry for being insensitive, offensive, or otherwise dense to all of my family, friends, and complete strangers in 2011. Let’s be clear. I am not apologizing for having strong views. I believe what I believe. I am apologizing for the way I aired those views. I am apologizing for not considering others’ feelings.
I meant well. Really, I did. Sometimes my passion took over and I said and did the wrong thing. I made a terse comment, hurt feelings, drew the wrong conclusion. I shouldn’t have. I am sorry. Please accept my apology.
Next: Forgiveness.
Oh, yes, yes, yes!
Simone, opening a gift she asked for several times this year.
Squinkies, Squinkies, Squinkies!
Nadia, opening the only gift she asked for.
I see a lot of purple.
Nadia, pointing out that many of her gifts arrived in her favorite color.
Hey, guess what I got? An ice cream maker!
Nadia, opening a surprise gift.
We got the same thing!
Simone, amazed that she and her sister received a lot of the same gifts.
Nadia: Who is this for?
Simone: That’s for you.
Nadia: Okay, I got it.
Simone and Nadia, having an orderly and very business-like conversation under the Christmas tree.
Look! The stockings are stuffed.
Simone, surveying Santa Mommy’s work.
Yay! A Tink puzzle!
Nadia, opening a puzzle featuring her favorite fairy.
Squeaakkkk!
Ringo, our Yorkie, playing with one of his new Christmas toys.
CNN correspondent Sara Sidner is biracial and told TV Guide Magazine it helps her when she is reporting international stories.
It’s good to be brown. Whether it’s in India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, people assume there is a connection there, that a parent or grandparent is from North Africa or from South Asia. People think, “Oh, she understands something about what we’ve been through.” I am a child of the world. My mother is British. My father is African-American. For me, it’s been an advantage…Being this color, I can kind of blend in, and I don’t get the kind of unwanted attention you might get if I walked in and everyone has dark hair and olive skin and I have blonde hair and blue eyes.
I was tickled when I learned about BeCouply a few weeks ago. The mobile and web app is designed to help couples document tender moments, find date spots, and check-in with social media.
BeCouply is still under development. What brought a smile to my face is that the couple behind it is interracial. The couple couldn’t have legally married in 16 states in 1967 until a case called Loving v. Virginia was decided. Today, they are creating The Love App. Beautiful.
This list popped into my mailbox, and I asked Ken Tenabe, founder of Lovingday.org, if I could post it. Of course, he said. Enjoy!
Looking for great meaningful gifts that support the multiethnic
community? Lovingday.org recommends:
Loving Day T-Shirts:
Great for starting conversations, and to show support Loving Day all
year.
http://lovingday.org/t-shirt-store
Loving Day General Store:
NEW: ornaments, cases for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Blackberry, and
Samsung Galaxy. Also, baby clothes, stickers, pins, mugs, postage
stamps, and even skateboards! A portion of every purchase benefits
Loving Day.
http://www.zazzle.com/lovingday/gifts?ps=75#products
Photo Portrait Books by Kip Fulbeck:
His work earned him the Loving Prize in 2009. More recently, he
presented at Museum of Chinese in America with Loving Day and Brooklyn
Historical Society. Buy with the links below and a percentage goes to
support Loving Day.
“Part Asian, 100% Hapa” – http://amzn.to/uBWcgH
Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids” – http://amzn.to/dvjUt5
“The Girl Who Fell From The Sky” by Heidi Durrow
A New York Times bestseller from a co-host of the Mixed Roots Film and
Literary Festival (the largest Loving Day Celebration on the West
Coast). Buy with the links below and a percentage goes to support
Loving Day.
http://amzn.to/eZ5gkJ
“One Big Hapa Family” by Jeff Chiba Stearns:
The film was featured on PBS and screened at Columbia
University at an event co-sponsored by Loving Day.
http://web.me.com/jeffchibastearns/One_Big_Hapa_Family/Store.html
“Multiracial Child Resource Book” from MAVIN Foundation:
An excellent resource from an important community organization (also a
long-time Loving Day host, supporter, and collaborator).
http://www.mavinfoundation.org/shopping/index.html
“Kissing Outside the Lines” by Diane Farr:
She’s an actress on “Rescue Me” and “Numb3rs,” and is a host on
“Loveline. ” She spoke with Loving Day at Barnes and Noble in New York
about her own experiences with multicultural marriage.
http://www.amazon.com/Kissing-Outside-Lines-Story-Happily/dp/1580053904
