A View from my Window - The Nature Generation · A View from my Window Amy Marasco Amy Marasco is...
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8 WWW.PURCELLVILLEGAZETTE.COM November 25, 2016 A View from my Window Amy Marasco Amy Marasco is President of The Nature Generation, a local Loudoun nonprofit working with area youth to inspire environmental stewards through education curiosity and action. The Nature Generation is a steward of the Chapman DeMary nature trail in Purcellville. She is also a resident of Hillsboro and Town Council member. Thanksgiving--The Time to Start a Conversation As morning breaks outside my window, I glimpse a frost dancing over the remnants of autumn leaves. Our beloved Short Hill Mountain tree line sparkles in the dawn. I want to enjoy the stillness of the morning and relish this natural beauty, but the day tugs on me. I need to rise and get started on the most pleasurable work of the season: preparing for a family holiday gathering at my inn. Our “family” is broadly defined because we always have room for one more chair at the table; it includes relatives we know and those we are just meeting, as well as our old friends and new friends. The table we gather round is in a dining room that has heard conversations from the 1770s, a place where families gathered before we were even a country and our aspirations of freedoms were only a dream yet to be realized. The smells of pumpkin pie and turkey that will soon permeate my kitchen, as well as the sounds of crackling fires, grandchildren and great nieces and nephews, football, and laughter. We will talk, as a family and as a community, of the freedoms we enjoy and the freedoms we must continue to defend. The dialogue will engage many generations around that table, and the many races and walks of life they represent. Every family makes memories. We can all close our eyes and recall times gone by when it all seemed easier and simpler; when our troubles appeared smaller in comparison to the weight of today’s challenges. But I wonder, must it always feel so hard? Must we always feel the heavy burden? Or, can we embark upon a new path? We‘ve just experienced an exhausting national election and much healing—much love—is needed. A renewal of civility is called for. I believe the renewal begins at each of our tables, as it is here that we are freer to speak our minds and we are more apt to listen with patience and respect and to learn and appreciate different perspectives. Different views exist because we each have our own stories and we see through our own lenses. But different views are best given—and heard— with kindness, dignity and respect. This season I hope that amidst the laughter and love we might reflect on all the gifts we have as Americans. And I hope in the coming days and months we will be patient with one another, taking the time to listen with more care, but always standing up against injustice when we see it. At our Thanksgiving table this year I will share with my many generations the ideas, and my personal interpretation of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” that he put forth to Congress and the world on January 6, 1941. I believe these four freedoms serve as the foundation of our national dialog now as they did then: Freedom of Speech —To have each voice heard and to know that no matter your race, age, gender, economic status, your voice is valued. The right to be heard is a fundamental cornerstone of our democracy. The freedom of speech is most welcomed when it is without malice, discrimination, or anger, but instead with civility. Freedom to Worship—To welcome in our country those who trod different religious I’m Thankful for You by Joanna Fuchs Thanksgiving is the appointed time For focusing on the good in our lives, In each of our days, We can find small blessings But too often we overlook them, Choosing instead to spend our time Paying attention to problems, We give our energy To those who cause us trouble Instead of those who bring peace. Starting now, Let’s be on the lookout For the bits of pleasure in each hour, And appreciate the people who Bring love and light to everyone Who is blessed to know them. and spiritual paths while knowing all faiths are more alike than different, that all are more about seeking higher love and peace. Freedom from Fear—To understand the power of good always wins over evil, but that evil is powerful and that we have to keep watch and call upon our better selves, our better angels, to do the work required when we see injustices, to not be silent but—with courage and love—stand up against injustice when we see it. Freedom from Want—So apparent in the abundance that some enjoy this holiday season and so painfully felt by those in need, many of whom wonder every day where their next meal will come from. Freedom from want is realized when those with much give openly and without fanfare to those who have little. And those in need are all around us, all year long. So as you enjoy the turkey and the dressing and the pie, I hope you might take the time to reflect and think about what freedom means, especially to those who are afraid to have their voice heard or who feel no one is listening or cares, who are afraid that the way they worship will be ridiculed by those who walk a different path, those who are fearful and therefore may act from that fear, and those whose wants are basic, who work hard but still cannot make a living wage and provide their family the food and shelter we all enjoy. President Roosevelt helped our nation understand these core values and Norman Rockwell’s illustrations imprinted them in our minds. Each of us has the chance, by our own actions, to imprint them on our hearts and on the hearts of our neighbors and our future generations. Freedom requires action. Let’s make this Thanksgiving one that sets a new high bar of giving, of love and kindness.
Transcript of A View from my Window - The Nature Generation · A View from my Window Amy Marasco Amy Marasco is...
8 WWW.PURCELLVILLEGAZETTE.COM November 25, 2016
A View from my WindowAmy Marasco
Amy Marasco is President of The Nature Generation, a local Loudoun nonprofit working with area youth to inspire environmental stewards through education curiosity and action. The Nature Generation is a steward of the Chapman DeMary nature trail in Purcellville. She is also a resident of Hillsboro and Town Council member.
Thanksgiving--The Time to Start a ConversationAs morning breaks outside my window,
I glimpse a frost dancing over the remnants of autumn leaves. Our beloved Short Hill Mountain tree line sparkles in the dawn. I want to enjoy the stillness of the morning and relish this natural beauty, but the day tugs on me. I need to rise and get started on the most pleasurable work of the season: preparing for a family holiday gathering at my inn.
Our “family” is broadly defined because we always have room for one more chair at the table; it includes relatives we know and those we are just meeting, as well as our old friends and new friends. The table we gather round is in a dining room that has heard conversations from the 1770s, a place where families gathered before we were even a country and our aspirations of freedoms were only a dream yet to be realized.
The smells of pumpkin pie and turkey that will soon permeate my kitchen, as well as the sounds of crackling fires, grandchildren and great nieces and nephews, football, and laughter. We will talk, as a family and as a community, of the freedoms we enjoy and the freedoms we must continue to defend. The dialogue will engage many generations around that table, and the many races and walks of life they represent.
Every family makes memories. We can all close our eyes and recall times gone by when it all seemed easier and simpler; when our troubles appeared smaller in comparison to the weight of today’s challenges. But I wonder, must it always feel so hard? Must we always feel the heavy burden? Or, can we embark upon a new path?
We‘ve just experienced an exhausting national election and much healing—much love—is needed. A renewal of civility is called for. I believe the renewal begins at each of our tables, as it is here that we are freer to speak our minds and we are more apt to listen with patience and respect and to learn and appreciate different perspectives. Different views exist because we each have our own stories and we see through our own lenses. But different views are best given—and heard—with kindness, dignity and respect.
This season I hope that amidst the laughter and love we might reflect on all the gifts we have as Americans. And I hope in the coming days and months we will be patient with one another, taking the time to listen with more care, but always standing up against injustice when we see it.
At our Thanksgiving table this year I will share with my many generations the ideas, and my personal interpretation of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” that he put forth to Congress and the world on January 6, 1941. I believe these four freedoms serve as the foundation of our national dialog now as they did then:
Freedom of Speech —To have each voice heard and to know that no matter your race, age, gender, economic status, your voice is valued. The right to be heard is a fundamental cornerstone of our democracy. The freedom of speech is most welcomed when it is without malice, discrimination, or anger, but instead with civility.
Freedom to Worship—To welcome in our country those who trod different religious
I’m Thankful for Youby Joanna Fuchs
Thanksgiving is the appointed timeFor focusing on the good in our lives,In each of our days,We can find small blessingsBut too often we overlook them, Choosing instead to spend our timePaying attention to problems,We give our energyTo those who cause us troubleInstead of those who bring peace.Starting now, Let’s be on the lookoutFor the bits of pleasure in each hour,And appreciate the people who Bring love and light to everyoneWho is blessed to know them.
and spiritual paths while knowing all faiths are more alike than different, that all are more about seeking higher love and peace.
Freedom from Fear—To understand the power of good always wins over evil, but that evil is powerful and that we have to keep watch and call upon our better selves, our better angels, to do the work required when we see injustices, to not be silent but—with courage and love—stand up against injustice when we see it.
Freedom from Want—So apparent in the abundance that some enjoy this holiday season and so painfully felt by those in need, many of whom wonder every day where their next meal will come from. Freedom from want is realized when those with much give openly and without fanfare to those who have little. And those in need are all around us, all year long.
So as you enjoy the turkey and the dressing and the pie, I hope you might take the time to reflect and think about what freedom means, especially to those who are afraid to have their voice heard or who feel no one is listening or cares, who are afraid that the way they worship will be ridiculed by those who walk a different path, those who are fearful and therefore may act from that fear, and those whose wants are basic, who work hard but still cannot make a living wage and provide their family the food and shelter we all enjoy.
President Roosevelt helped our nation
understand these core values and Norman Rockwell’s illustrations imprinted them in our minds. Each of us has the chance, by our own actions, to imprint them on our hearts and on the hearts of our neighbors and our future generations.
Freedom requires action. Let’s make this Thanksgiving one that sets a new high bar of giving, of love and kindness.
