When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears” Anthony Robbins
It rained a lot this past weekend here in Santo Domingo and in between pockets of intense rain showers, my partner and I jumped into the back of a gua gua to head home. Without going into too much detail, a gua gua is a large van with several bench seats transporting insane amounts of people, baggage and sometimes small animals.

I sat touching knee to knee, shoulder to shoulder with several rain drenched people and suddenly felt overwhelmed with gratitude for so much love and goodness that I have in my life!

As everyone watches the latest developments in the economy, understandably trying to protect their investments, homes and savings; here in the Dominican Republic, many people are wondering where their next meal is going to come from.

I think about financial security and what that really means to be “secure”. Security is really a matter of perspective; some people will never have enough, while many will be thankful for each “little” thing they have.

Many families here will share food with their neighbours knowing that the favour will be returned if needed. People enter into each others homes freely to visit, often breaking out spontaneously in dance and song. There is real security existing in the community.

I am thankful to be Canadian. I can choose to return to the comforts of Canada anytime and I am deeply grateful for that choice. But for now, I am grateful for the abundance of lessons that I am learning here. I believe that I am exactly where I am meant to be.

As the gua gua navigated around rain drenched streets, wild traffic and massive pot holes, I watched as two older women, squished tightly together laugh loudly, their eyes tearing up as they smiled at each other. I listened as an old man sang quietly to himself peering through the foggy glass and smiled as a mother and daughter teased each other as they tied plastic bags to cover their hair from the rain. I sat there observing all of this beauty with a full and happy heart. Prosperity and wealth is all around us!

Wishing you a Happy (early) Canadian Thanksgiving!

With love,

Kelly

“Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy — because we will always want to have something else or something more.” Brother David Steindl-Rast