Where are we headed?

We live in amazing times. We can fly anywhere in the world, and within hours land in a far off place only dreamed of less than 100 years ago. But with all this movement, where are we headed?

We just finished off the Thanksgiving season, and are now quickly headed to the Christmas season, the season of giving. But what exactly are we giving?

Maybe the recent layoffs and the financial squeeze everyone is feeling these days is a wonderful opportunity to re-evaluate what we give and how we give.

I learned early from my oh so broken family, that money was supposed to sooth the wounds of bad behavior, bad tempers, and guilt from a too quick tongue. Money and gifts were supposed to be what was accepted instead of an apology. It was supposed to be the apology. So Christmas was to make up for all the transgressions of the past year.

I remember thinking this was a silly way to live one's life.

With the lesser economy, maybe just listening to each other could be the greatest gift.

Feelings are Good? part 2

So yesterday, I write this blog about how feeling are supposed to be good for you. No less than 60 minutes of posting that blog, I have what I would lovingly call a melt down. I communicated my insecurities publicly and regretted it, spilled my coffee twice, could not find my keys... well, you get the picture.
Some days it feels like all I do is dodge bullets, like this super hero. But my problem is, I'm not a super hero, I do not bend steel in my bare hands or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound to quote the old Superman TV show.
Lately, it just feels like I'm not dodging very well, and getting hit.
I've read over and over, that I'm the one in charge of my feelings, I get to say whether a person 'gets under' my skin or not. And I'm also told that there is a thing called the butterfly effect, that we all are intricately connected. So, how do you remain centered, regardless of the circumstances and interconnectedness of us all? How does that work?