I thought about writing this back in November, (at Thanksgiving, no less, go figure...), but decided to just observe a few things over the Christmas/Chanukah/Kwaanza holiday and see if the true spirit behind those holidays was being practiced, or if it was all just about material things. Sad to say, my observations led me to the latter, but not totally.

I saw a LOT of anger, rage, indifference, intolerance, but even more frustration, as people tried to figure out WHAT to get for the family and friends on their lists. I saw a major retail chain refuse to allow the SALVATION ARMY to ring their bells of charity in front of their stores, saying it was offensive to their non-christian customers. Charity, I guess now is a matter of religious beliefs, NOT the need to do something to help everyone, regardless. Mother Nature, it seems, decided to bring her HUMAN family back to the reality of its "oneness", by unleashing a TSUNAMI, which did not discriminate in its distribution of havoc and death. It is so unfortunate
that it takes something like that, or a "9-11", or Hurricanes in Florida and Texas, or Mudslides in California, to wake up the masses.

MARLO THOMAS, daughter of the late entertainer, DANNY THOMAS, and America's "THAT GIRL", did a special TV program and wrote a book that changed the thought
of "Thanksgiving", into "Thanks for Giving", for the children of the ST.JUDE'S Hospital and charity her Father started, and she and her husband, PHIL DONAHUE, continue to run and support. I thought this was a wonderful idea, much more in the spirit of what this holiday time is all supposed to be about, as opposed to whether or not "Johnny" is going to get the latest version of the "I-BOX".

It also inspired another thought in me. What about being thankful for being able to GIVE. There are so many people in this, the "richest" country on earth, who have lost jobs, been victims of crime, lost family members in IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN, plunging them into financial hardships, as well as others who struggle with economic problems of various types.

While far from being financially "Rich", as a Martial Artist, Personal Trainer and Personal Safety Educator, I am spiritually rich in that thru PPT, the TROY COMMUNITY COALITION, and MARTIAL ARTS PARTNERS for PEACE, I have been able to GIVE something back to my fellow human beings, regardless of minute things of importance like race, color, creed and other things we use societally to divide ourselves from each other, and I am truly THANKFUL for that. I think for others who are teachers, community leaders, ministers, law enforcement officers, firemen and other "First Responders", as well as many others who sometimes have to make many sacrifices in order to give, should also truly be Thankful for the blessing of being able to help others, for at some point in our lives, we ALL NEED help from others, even if it is just a simple word of praise and encouragement from a peer, colleague, friend or family member. What have YOU done lately to help someone else? What kind of feeling did you have after that? And, if you HAVEN'T done something to help someone else, WHY NOT?!

Please, I encourage you to share this INFO-torial with others, and as always, would love to have your feedback and opinions. Let me also state my appreciation and thankfulness to my parents, my daughters, DENA and DeANNA, my family and friends(special THANKS to them for making my 50TH birthday the best ever), my mentors, "Dr. T"(Terrence Webster-Doyle), Sensei WALTER WOODRUFF, Master WES
DEES, Mr. ROBERT BLOSS and MARY ANN SOLBERG who have supported me and PPT with advice, training, their hard work and sacrifice, and most important, their love. I couldn't do this without you, and for that, I am VERY thankful!