A Day to be Grateful

As with any Memorial Day, I am struck by how grateful I am to live in this country. What an amazing place to live, regardless of how "imperfect" it all is (especially right now). I want to recognize the men and women who everyday put their lives on the line to give us this blessing. Thank you very much.

I was thinking about how great this country is while I was taking the bus down to see the Colorado Rockies play yesterday (no we didn't win - darn LA Dodgers). As a new bus rider, I am being drawn into a world I never see. One of diversity, color and most importantly kindness.

As mentioned in previous posts (and I promise with no disrespect to the Cherry Creek area) I live in a pretty antiseptic, white, affluent neighborhood. But just step onto the #1 bus heading downtown and oh the sites you see. People of all different colors, religions, backgrounds, social standings and disabilities. I had the privilege of meeting a wheelchair bound woman and got to glimpse how brave she is and what a chore it is to simply ride the bus.

I met a wonderful old Mexican man, for sure travelling home after a long day of work, work he puts in 7 days a week to keep his children and children's children fed.

So many stories on the bus. So many people walking a different life path than me, but here we all are - smiling kindly to each other as we pay our fare and take a seat, on our way to different destinations, though we get on and off at the same stops.

Another profound lesson not learned driving my car from destination to destination. Lessons missed, people not met, opportunities not allowed. I continue to look forward to meeting new people, lending a hand when I can, and learning from those I never thought I needed to learn from. What lessons or opportunities do you think you are missing out on by driving everywhere you need to go? I wonder when, and if, you'll ever stop to find out. If you do, I know from experience, it will be worth it.