Dear Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson

I wanted to write a post to Katheryn Hudson known to the world as Katy Perry after spending my birthday (and celebrating my daughter's 10th) at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento to WITNESS her latest tour spectacle. I brought along my 15 year sold step-daughter and both girls enjoyed their very first concert.

This is a post of gratitude. 

Dearest Katheryn,

As a parent (and step-parent) of girls it is important that they have real role models. I work hard to lead by example but girls like to rebel against their mother's best efforts and guidance to forge their own path. I did it (sorry mom) and now so are my girls.They need to look to strong women outside of their home. That someone was you on the stage in Sacramento, swathed in sequins and Swarovski crystals. My girls hung on your every word and I was impressed by the series of messages you had throughout the show.

Clearly you are talented and creative but I was so pleased and inspired to see what a great sense of humor you have and a humbleness and wisdom that only comes from experience and getting kicked around by life and loved ones and getting up again, stronger and better. 

The call to your father was a great example. It is a sweet, humorous gesture that had an impact on my girls. To remind everyone in the audience to spend more time with loved ones, to always tell them that you love them was extremely important. It also inspired my girls to turn to me in the midst of your giant telephone moment and tell me that they love me and thank me for bringing them to your show.

After sitting on Saturn and orbiting over our heads you chose that boy from the audience and discussed the importance of collective energy, positive energy, intention, and putting it out there for manifestation by wishing on your star, again so eloquently done dripping in diamond hair, a silver sequin bodysuit and sparkle intergalactic footwear. I trust someone in sequins over an asshole in a suit any day and apparently so do my girls. Your discussion about material items not being the symbol of success but how happiness is truly all that matters in this life was a poignant one. It is sad that many (including your on stage guest) envy the fame and fortune you have but fail to see the other side of the proverbial coin. The shit you take, leeches you deal with, things you have sacrificed to be in the position you are in.  It was striking when above all your declaration of happiness is all that matters. These statements resonated immediately and I could see it in my girls eyes. All that society celebrates isn't what is important at all, but their eyes collectively glaze over when I start preaching about this simple truth but somehow your message got though to them. 

 And most of all, Thank you for sharing your music, joy, pain, talents and triumphs with the world. The look on my daughters face is the most meaningful manifestation of your work. The people you help with your lyrics/music and message. The girls self esteem you assist in building. The people going through hard times that your songs uplift and elevate. The singers, songwriters, poets and performance artists that you inspire to keep following their dreams.

When we put ourselves out there what we risk in vulnerability and judgment pales in comparison to the happiness and inspiration we can give to others. So when you feel unmotivated, judged, exhausted and wonder why the hell you do all of this whilst icing your knees and rocking those yoga toes .. please remember my daughters photo above and my gratitude as a parent and a woman. The future is FEMALE because of women standing up and sharing their truth, lessons, mistakes and inspiring those to do the same, to heal and to live their best lives.

I wish I could have said all of this to you in person in Sacramento ... next time.

Thank you.

Thanks

Thanksgiving (and other holidays)always makes me stop to take a life inventory; count my blessings and share my gratitude with everyone in my life. I'm left wondering why we all don't do this all year? It literally took me a few moments to tweet, update facebook status, send a group MMS and make a few calls to say "Thank You" and "I Love You". During the holiday season I really do take time to look around. I have observed that people are much more polite, courteous, thoughtful, expressive and kind. I wonder why it takes a Hallmark holiday to make us all become human again (this includes the Christmas holiday season which I guess in America officially starts tomorrow, Black Friday style!).

Today, again I am going to take this digital opportunity to say THANKS to everyone who has blessed my life; my beautiful children Kaleigh Rain and Blake, my amazing husband who loves and supports me like no other, my family and friends spread throughout North America .... The Canucks and Yanks. I am also going to make a pledge to be more aware and expressive regarding my gratitude. The best gift I was given; this amazing life I have (thanks mom). I am completely guilty of letting my fast paced life sweep me away in a sea of responsibility, work and obligation with perceived little time left for expressing my appreciation to those who are a part of my universe. This also extends to random strangers and 'the little things'. There are really no excuses not to be present, slow down and say THANKS.

Life is full of struggle, tough times, disappointments and not so amazing moments but it is the thankfulness and appreciation for the great ones that makes life a truly extraordinary experience! NONE of us navigate this life alone. So THANK YOU to all of you who have loved me, helped me, laughed and cried with me, supported me and those who continue to travel with me down my path!

Gratitude

Gratitude. An emotion often felt but not expressed often enough in words and even less in gesture or action. I have just celebrated one of the most joyous and suffered one of the most traumatic moments in my life. The birth of my son Blake. I had a very fast and traumatic natural delivery which left my new born son blue, virtually lifeless and fighting to breath in the NICU. What was anticipated by me to be one of the happiest days of my life ended up being one of the most stressful and horrifying quite frankly.

Now that the initial shock has worn off, oxygen tubes removed and Blake has been safely delivered to his new home I have had time to reflect on my personal gratitude, blessings and gifts.

My gratitude extends beyond the delivering midwife, nurses at French Hospital and those in the special care nursery who cared for Blake 24/7 (literally). My eternal gratitude goes to my chosen family of Central Coast Sisters who unselfishly sprung into action to help me start picking up the pieces and ensuring that structure that surrounded me stayed strong. I did not have the strength from my little mini-alcatraz a.k.a. hospital bed to express my gratitude, until now.

THANK YOU - for the visits, lunches, laughs, gifts and TIME. For cleaning my home, doing my laundry and grocery shopping. For the food in the freezer, flowers and hugs. The Half Black/Half passion, no sugar. For the available ear to listen, the shoulder to cry and the warm arms I needed to hold me when my husbands were too exhausted. For the positive energy, prayer and vibes sent to me every moment of every day. For all this and more I am sincerely GRATEFUL.

I raise my glass to the following special ladies in my life



who each in their own fabulous ways have helped me through this time and enriched my life in general.










Thank you Maggie (Hair Stylist extraordinaire) for making a house call, reviving my locks, bringing dinner, clothes for Blake and so much support and LOVE! xo I now feel like a human being again ... one with fabulous hair ;) xo



A shout out to my digital support team! Thank you for all the lovely messages, texts, BBM's, Tweets and Facebook messages during the dark days and beyond. Even though we were geographically separated your love and support was felt each day; JESSIE, CHELSA, CINDY, LAURA, NICOLE, KERRY, My cousins/brothers: CHRIS & COLIN, JO JO, KRISTEN, MARIE, .. and my Facebook and Twitter Family. I can honestly say that your wishes, prayers and positive energy helped and reached us.


To My Sister Lori; My gratitude can never really be expressed in words for your grand gesture of love to our family. Jumping on a plane and flying 2,700 miles at first word that Blake's situation was less than ideal is amazing! You left your busy life that is full of responsibly to your job(s), kids and derby team to come and help with Kaleigh, tend to my household, make me laugh and cheer me. Most of all unselfishly lending your ear and heart to my feelings and struggle. I will be eternally thankful for both your actions and words during this time.



To my Mother; I can never properly articulate my gratitude for all your help during this time and over my entire life. You have always been there for me and I am FOREVER thankful to you and your generous heart and soul. You have been an amazing mother to me and Lori and an even more amazing grandmother (Nanny) to Kaleigh and Blake. I love you.




Special Thanks to TORI and KIMORA who have taken the time to inquire about Blake, provide words of support and encouragement and illustrate through words and action what amazing women they are.





HAVE YOU THANKED THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE? BIG OR SMALL?

Start a gratitude journal today. Each day write at least one thing you are grateful for. At the end of the year you will have at least 365 reasons to celebrate your life and the people in it!

Lisa
OXO

There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed. If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude. ~Robert Brault