Category: Grateful Heart Monday

Welcome to a new week and a new Grateful Heart Monday, where gratitude is my only focus, which for today is for all those who remain non-political and unbiased during such a heated political climate these days in our country.

I’m not sure if there’s ever been a time where I’ve ever felt the political tension to be as high as it does feel right now all around me every single day. It honestly has become quite difficult to escape it between all those impeachment proceedings and those talking about it, the upcoming presidential election and all the advertising now beginning to surround it, and all those hot issues up for debate that our country seems to be stuck on.

I have a number of friends who quite heatedly post their political views daily on social media, each of which hope to make their impact upon the world by pulling others onto their side. Thankfully, I’ve remained unbiased by it all and have been grateful for those who too have steered clear of engaging in any of this ultra-angry political atmosphere.

Truthfully, the last thing I want to do over any type of social hour, meal, or water-cooler conversation is talk about anything political whatsoever. Because frankly, I don’t care. There, I said it and I’m so grateful for those who feel as I do. Sadly, I’ll probably be unfriended on Facebook by someone reading this who thinks they will prove a point that me taking this type of stance is stupid and the very reason they believe our country is the way it is. When the very reason our country is the way it is has a lot more to do with the lack of love we are offering each other these days.

That’s why I want to go deeper when I hang out with people and it’s why I want to always know what’s really hurting a person from within. I want to talk about wounds they haven’t been able to heal yet, ones that have nothing to do with the political climate in this country. It’s going to be very difficult to ever heal those wounds though when the focus is consistently outside oneself on things like all this political insanity in our country.

Whether Trump/Pence remains president/vice president or not, whether something changes to health care, abortion, gun control, etc., I choose to not lose sleep over any of it and am so thankful for those who want to carry on conversations with me that don’t involve anything in this arena. I find having those type of conversations so stressful and draining and never do I feel better about myself or others or this country for that matter, when having them. I find them separating and not unifying, creating division, rather than connection.

So, for all of you out there, you know who you are, those who shy away from political conversations and really wish to simply make more heart and loving connections with people in general in this world, I’m grateful for each of you, because it’s all of you who I believe will make the difference on this planet by helping to move it towards one of love instead of one where people keep taking sides over things like politics…

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

Welcome to Grateful Heart Monday, the weekly series where gratitude always gets expressed for someone or something in my life that has truly touched my heart, which for today is for my recent trip to Massachusetts to see my oldest and dearest friend Cedric.

Several weeks ago, when I flew out on a Wednesday to see Cedric and spend a week with him, I was a little worried about experiencing tension between he and I in regards to where’s he’s at on his spiritual journey and where I’m at. I’m very grateful to report that our bond and love for each other that has now lasted for almost 23 years transcended all of that. So, as I write today’s weekly gratitude, I want to recap the many wonderful things I got to enjoy on this trip.

At the top of it all was the silly banter and humor the two of us had that is pretty much non-stop whenever we hang out. Much of it deals with pretending to have short-term memories and resaying and replaying our days together. Most of our friends don’t quite get it, but watching the two of us engage in our strange behavior constantly seems to make everyone laugh anyway, especially ourselves. Beyond our weird humor though, I was very grateful to experience many other things too, both with him, and others as well.

The trip began with a fun meal at a Cheesecake Factory in Providence, Rhode Island upon my arrival, which also included indulging in some take-out desserts later that night while beginning our binge watch of Season 2 of Impulse on YouTube. Thursday involved a very pleasant stroll through a nearby large state hospital grounds that ultimately helped to reconnect our spiritual journeys together, after which I enjoyed a nice home cooked meal, which was followed by a laughter-filled car ride to a Starbucks and an astounding AA commitment. Oh, and speaking of Starbucks, I went to a different one every single day on this trip and really appreciated the many great conversations I had at all of them sipping a number of different types of coffees. Anyways, on Friday, we took an incredible day trip to Gloucester, Rockport, and Newburyport, all while getting to see the beautiful Massachusetts coastline, eating at one of my favorite old haunts called Sugar Magnolias, checking out a number of local artisans, sipping on amazing lattes at the Lone Gull Coffeehouse, and talking to many local townsfolk in each of the towns. Saturday I was pumped to reconnect with my dear friend Debbie, someone I used to work for long ago, who spent the entire afternoon and evening with me hanging out, having coffee, watching me do a 12 Step recovery lead, and dining at a hip place called Moby Dick’s Ale House in New Bedford. And speaking of reconnection, after an extremely long period of time, Sunday involved spending time with a friend I hadn’t seen in 10 years, a guy named Ethenios. We met him and his fiancée Megan at a new restaurant I’d never been to in Marlborough, a place called the 110 Grill, which was extremely tasty. Later that evening Cedric and I laughed our asses off watching Bad Boys 3 at a nearby theater and finished our night off having dessert while watching the final episode of Season 2 of Impulse. On Sunday, I spent the first part of it with another dear friend I’ve known as long as Cedric and Debbie, a guy named Sean, who took me to a superb restaurant for lunch called La Familia, after which we had coffee and sat by a local lake all while having intimate conversation with a great view. Later that night, I ate some of the best NY style pizza at a local joint named Blooms in West Bridgewater and went to a deeply connecting AA men’s meeting I used to attend regularly when living in the area. On my final full day of my trip, I enjoyed going to a local AA bookstore called the Sober Camel, treated Cedric to a relatively new cuisine in his life, that being sushi, and ended with some great dessert and coffee at a place called Fratelli’s.

Truly, there were plenty of special moments to be grateful for on my trip to Massachusetts. But, ultimately, it was the unconditional love I continue to share with Cedric that made me the most grateful, even if he and I continue to be on very different spiritual paths right now in life. I’m so very thankful I went on this trip, for all that I got to enjoy while on it, for all the other dear friends who took the time to come see me, and for all the new connections I made as well, as each helped to leave me with plenty of gratitude to be shared for this week’s Grateful Heart Monday.

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson

Welcome to another chapter of Grateful Heart Monday, where I show appreciation and gratitude for someone or something that’s touched my heart, which for today is for a generous and humble individual named Randy Sutherland.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Randy at a men’s coffee group here in Toledo and ever since, I’ve gotten to see how great of a guy he truly is. Always friendly and warm, Randy is such an extremely approachable person. I honestly can’t say I’ve ever seen him yelling or mad at anyone. While I’m sure he’s had his moments like we all do from time to time, I have never seen him acting negatively towards anyone. Rather, he usually just has a genuine smile on this face and offered plenty of good conversation.

I really began to see the generosity of Randy with the several parties he regularly opens his house up to for everyone to enjoy during various times of the year. During the middle of the summer, it’s a garden party where people get to see his ornate talent and skills throughout his beautiful backyard. During the fall, it’s his costumed Halloween parties that have been a huge blast for those who’ve attended. And just after every new year begins, it’s his post-holiday get-togethers where guests get to see much of his exquisite decorating and are treated to a fun bash of treats and foods all around his home.

And speaking of decorating, one of the things I’ve come to really admire about Randy is how he uses that talent every year to spruce up a part of the Wildwood Manor House in Wildwood Park when it’s opened up to the public every December for just over a week for special Christmas tours. Randy is quite accomplished when it comes to his eye for decorating, especially there, often using mannequins throughout his displays. One such display really moved me a few years ago in the great room of this Wildwood Manor home, where he uniquely placed a male mannequin romantically proposing to another male mannequin, something that I felt was a very bold move for this ultra conservative area, and one I really appreciated Randy for doing.

While I haven’t ever had the pleasure of hanging out with Randy one on one, I do know from others that he’s a very loyal and giving friend and someone people really look forward to being around because he’s just that nice of a guy.

Selfless, kind, and caring, I’m grateful to be a part of Randy’s extended network of friends and simply wanted to put a little something out there for someone who I think is rather humble and would never expect anything like this to be written about him. Randy Sutherland is definitely someone who deserves some praise and gratitude for once, which is precisely why I picked him as the recipient for today’s Grateful Heart Monday.

Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson