🍂 My November Thought(s)

By C. Clark 🍁🍂

This is a new and exciting journey for me, writing a magazine and exploring different themes and focuses. This journey has me thinking about what November means to me which, other than Thanksgiving, I never thought about. Of course there is my favorite season, sweater weather, but even with that I never thought about it.

November – it’s almost the end of the year, with New Year's Eve just around the corner, and thoughts of renewal start to enter my mind – renewal and review. I was trying to keep all my articles light and focused – focused on new journeys – but I’m feeling the importance of including the realities of my current life. Staying aware of current events is how I spend most of my day, so adding this part to my magazine and blog like what I should be doing now – feel authentic.

This November feels different – there is a pull between being joyfully thankful and the desire to fight for all the people who are about to lose their SNAP benefits and won’t have food for Thanksgiving (or Christmas).

The government is closed and has been for the past 25 days (as of this writing) – and it looks like it won't be opened soon. Speaker Johnson is trying to blame everyone but himself and this current Republican Party. Along with the SNAP benefits possibly disappearing, if the Republicans had their way, the health care tax credits will expire and completely disappear and EVERYONE’s monthly premium will double (and in some cases triple). 

Yet, at the same time I am grateful for the time spent with my folks, and having a roof over my head & food on the table. I am grateful for this moment to be able to explore new career paths without having to hustle for money. I am grateful to finally reach post-menopause and feel my hormones evening out. I am grateful for the cooler weather and being able to sleep better. I’m excited about this 3I/ATLAS and my wonderment that this could be a sign of my new career path – Astrophysics.

Yes, this November feels – yet along with the joyful moment there is hope – hope that people are waking up and ready to engage to keep our freedom and make this a better place for all of us to live.