I thought I'd start one of my own today....

I’m thankful for being able to dance with my best friend of over a decade; that even though we’ve had good times and rough times (we call that the Dark Times), there’s always been that deep sisterly love underneath it all.

I’m thankful to know and come in contact with so many amazing people, dancers, souls. That I’m inspired by facets of every individual I come in contact with.

I’m thankful that I’ve finally reached a point in life where I am mature enough to see drama when it unfolds and courageously ignore and rise above it.

I am thankful that I have finally taken to heart this Buddhist saying “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.” and applying it to every facet of my life.

I am thankful to have a passion that brings me joy, allows me to sing with my own unique voice and share my love of this art form called bellydance with the world.

Now that I’ve shared my thankfulness, what are YOU thankful for?
posted by:
ObSiDiA
Texas
  • a perfect example of crazy drama....


    fighting for the equality of vegetation

    www.weeklystandard.com/Conten...doe.asp
    • aww - that's sweet obi... sometimes i just like to fuck off on tribe ...and lure others into doing the same.. maybe?

      re drama-rama..
      i've sucessfully found ways to keep it out of my sphere for ....hmmm maybe the last 12 or 13 years at least..
      sometimes it's as easy as removing yourself from a location/ situation / conversation..... (tion tion tion.. ...)
      and other times we've got to push the drama away using both hands and force....
      it's worth it.

      once you get your own distance/perspective.....
      you see others in chaos..... and try to help....
      but smile ....'cuz you know they'll find their way out.

      • more on equality of plants...
        the lyrics to a rush song... my fav actually...


        There is unrest in the forest,
        There is trouble with the trees,
        For the maples want more sunlight
        And the oaks ignore their pleas.
        The trouble with the maples,
        (And they're quite convinced they're right)
        They say the oaks are just too lofty
        And they grab up all the light.
        But the oaks can't help their feelings
        If they like the way they're made.
        And they wonder why the maples
        Can't be happy in their shade.
        There is trouble in the forest,
        And the creatures all have fled,
        As the maples scream Oppression!
        And the oaks just shake their heads
        So the maples formed a union
        And demanded equal rights.
        The oaks are just too greedy;
        We will make them give us light.
        Now there's no more oak oppression,
        For they passed a noble law,
        And the trees are all kept equal
        By hatchet, axe, and saw.
  • I am thankful that my role in a certain festival has lead to me being invited to be in a movie. Go belly dance!!
    I am thankful that I have reached a point in my life that i can dance without caring what others think.

    I am thankful that there is finally more styles out there than just Egyptian.
    • I'm thankful for ALWAYS being able to ignore and not care what others think of me when they try to get under my skin.

      I'm thankful that I don't judge people by the negative things other people say.

      I'm thankful that I'm for real and don't pretend to be someone I'm not.

      I'm thankful that I've ALWAYS been able to think on my own and not let others try to change me.

      I'm thankful that I've NEVER been jealous of anyone EVER. (and those who ever think so can just get over themselves)

      I'm thankful that I have NEVER caused drama and stay away from it when it knocks on my door.

      I'm thankful that when a problem does arise I have the strength and courage to meet it head on and resolve it without emotions getting in the way.

      I'm thankful that I can see people for who they are and accept them for it. (and if I can't then I move on quietly and let them live their life)

      I AM thankful for being able to keep my personal feelings to myself and not bash other people when things get rough because it will all blow over anyway and life goes on.

      I'm thankful that I've NEVER let my ego get out of hand and that I keep myself in check and when I meet those who have gotten too big for there heads I can laugh at it and leave them be.

      I am thankful that my LIFE experiences has made me stronger woman and I can handle anything that comes my way.

      I'm thankful that I found belly dance and am able to do learn from amazing instructors and that I will be doing it for the rest of my life and hopefully until I die.

      I am thankful for the expriences that I have gone through, good and bad, so that I may learn from them and grow.

      I am thankful that I am in troupe that I am in now and I know in my heart that no matter what has happened or will happen that we were meant to be together.

      I am thankful that I am able to dance for all the communities, (art, belly dance, music).

      I'm extremely thankful for YET and Luna for keeping me grounded.

      I'm lastly I'm thankful that I am in good health and live a life of honesty as best I can and for those I meet who don't I can walk away and hope they will find happiness with out lies.

      the end.
    • It's awesome to see everyone putting the positive vibes out there, being thankful for others around them and being happy within themselves...

      I'm glad I started this thread! Seems to be a great enabler for everyone to give "props" for the things that matter and are POSITIVE....

      (this whole thread started from a discussion at my job..see, even work can be beneficial at times..lol)
      • oh and I'm also thankful that Jason Castro will (hopefully) be booted off American Idol tonight...


        His singing reminds me of cats yowling....ugh

        ; - )
        • ohhh


          and I'm uber-thankful that Urban Gypsy will be teaching AGAIN at the event my production team (4 Wench Productions) puts on, Tribal Alchemy!!!!

          Oct 17-19..


          how's THAT for a plug/segway!!!!!!

          hehehehehehehe
          • I am grateful to have had most of my friends for a decade or more, for it is a gift to be truly known by others.

            I am grateful for my strengths and talents, because they remind me I am capable as long as I am willing.

            I am grateful for my flaws and shortcomings, because they remind me I am human and still have much to learn.

            I am grateful that I avoid words such as "never" and "always" because I know absolutes are dangerous and misleading.

            I am grateful for my silence most of the time, because what I do is ultimately more important than what I say.

            I am grateful that what I say is what I do.

            I am thankful that I know the truth needs no defense.

            I am grateful for Obsidia for more reasons than I can count or describe. Twelve years is a long time to be someone's best friend. No one has seen me at my best and my worst more than she has, and vice versa. We know each other's strength and fragility and love each other for it. I'm glad for the "Dark Time", as it made me appreciate and value our friendship a thousand times more.

            I am grateful for Michael, who has been my soul mate and my saving grace in so many ways. I can't wait to marry him.

            I am grateful for Sahira, because without her teaching, friendship, and support, I'd be floundering instead of flourishing.

            I am extremely grateful for bellydance and all the joy I have exchanged with other dancers even though we may not dance together all the time or at all anymore. I am grateful for the challenges of dance, the love of the community, and the experiences I have had. I have learned to work hard and have fun, to remember that dance is about the art and not the dancer, and that people in the community will always support you if you let them.

            I am grateful that in recent times I have finally discovered that I am where I was supposed to be all along- dancing with Nina and Obsidia (and now a few others too!), learning from Sahira, hosting Vagabond Bellydance, reconnecting with the larger bellydance and dance community, the music community, and preparing to move forward with this wonderful dance.

            You know what? Reading what I just wrote here made me grateful all over again. :)

            • aww dude...~sniffle~

              I'm thankful for Michael too-because it isn't often I meet a person with as much cynicism as my own....Michael rocks my face off!!!

              okay, so for my H-town buddies who are thankful, we need to have a drink in honor of our thankfulness when i get to town next weekend...hehehehe
        • oh, but LORD HAVE MERCY he's a purty purty boy.........oooooo weeeee!!!

          (and I don't normally give a crap about the esthetics of a male species......)
          • ....and I am thankful for the opportunity to watch him in HD (I had to tie that in to topic somehow)
            • I'm thankful that I don't QUESTION anyones thankfullness or try to make anyone else's thankfullness lesser than mine.

              I'm thankful I'm not self-rightous.

              I'm thankful I don't feel that I HAVE to correct people ALL the time.

              I'm thankful that I don't lie to myself and others.

              I'm thankful I'm not two-faced.

              I'm thankful I'm not greedy in any aspect of my life.

              I'm thankful I'm not conceited.

              I'm thankful I'm not arrogant.

              I'm thankful I don't try to push people into doing things they don't want.

              I'm thankful I don't just think of myself and not others.

              I'm thankful I don't use people for my own gain.

              I'm thankful I will ALWAYS be around to be thankful until I die.

              I'm thankful that NO ONE person can make me quit what I want to do because it just makes me stronger.

              I'm thankful I don't think I KNOW everything.

              And I'm thankful that I have The Lilies and Mahalla to dance next to again and again. (and for Lori cuz she's so damn cute)


              This should be brought up around Thanksgiving again.......
              • YAY for thankfulness!!!!

                hee hee
                • I did forget to say I am so very thankful and blessed by my son-who makes me look differently at the world every day and makes me realize I am a small cog in a large wheel.

                  Everyone's wonderful examples make me smile on a gloomy day here in D-town..brightest blessings to each and every one of us for voicing our thankfulness and therefore, putting positive changes into motion within the Universe.

                  Bright blessings to every single poster (and reader and dancer and tribester, etc etc) out there!!!!!!
                  • This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
                    Yes, Obi! I'm thankful for your little man too. He's so unique and creative and he always reminds me to see the joy and beauty in the small things in life. But of course he's awesome- look at his mother! :)
                    • i'm thankfull i'm ues words like always...becuase i would be to face if i said i didn't then ues it after asying i never do.lol


                      i'm so thankful for karma!!!!
                      • You are so right, Luna. Thank you for correcting me. I did, however, say I avoid using "always", not that I never use it.

                        Obi, your son often reminds me to take joy in the little things in life.
                        There, all better. :)
                        • I always have avoidance issues with work.....does that count?? lol

                          I mean, there are only so many times you can hear a person say "well EVERYBODY get diabetes!" to justify why we won't insure them. (I get the escalated calls-such is the glamourous life of a supervisor)....

                          yup, I generally have a new ludicrous statement to add on a weekly basis.
                          • I need to take a moment here

                            Wed, May 7, 2008 - 2:04 PM
                            I've made jokes to smooth over some very not-nice posts on this thread but it really bothers me..

                            Why? Because I began this thread in a completely positive light. Nothing I posted was aimed at any person in particular, it was not snarky, passive aggressive, full of underlying malice or anything of the sort.

                            There have been several responses however that ARE full of these things. I cannot sit by with this giant elephant in the room and allow someone I love dearly to be defaimed (even if her name is spoken aloud, no one who reads this is so blind as to NOT know to whom this is addressed).

                            I've seen the hate filled blogs and snarky posts that have shown up in the last few weeks and I'm saddened. I'm saddened that when we (Nari and I) have begun a path of positivity and have tried to show support of others, it's been hurled back with venom.

                            I will say to those particular persons-You speak of all of these things you aren't, yet your posts are filled with these exact attributes.

                            Let it all go....You can't undo anything that's been done-before NOW...NOW you can begin a new path-one that accepts that someone you knew moved on and created something fresh..and HEY, you gals did too! That's what it's all about.

                            Anger, venom, vicious words and hateful looks will earn nothing but disdain and pity...we're all grown adults...it's time to let the "she said this, she did this" go and MOVE ON...

                            Last I checked none of us are in grade school...let's rise above the BS and all EMBRACE the positivity that we get from our dance sisters/brothers, from this art form and from LIFE!!!

                            I know that's why I posted my thoughts (each and every one of them) and that's all I want to do...I hope others feel the same way...Life's too short to hang on to bitterness.