I'm not sure what category to call this "Of the Month."  It's not really one we've done before, so we'll just have to go with the flow.  It starts with a Cherokee story.
   An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life.  He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me.  It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.  One wolf is evil - he is Fear, Anger, Envy, Sorrow, Regret, Greed, Arrogance, Self-pity, Guilt, Resentment, Inferiority, Lies, False Pride, Competition, Superiority and Ego."
   "The other is good - he is Joy, Peace, Love, Hope, Sharing, Serenity, Humility, Kindness, Benevolence, Friendship, Empathy, Generosity, Truth, Compassion and Faith.  This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person too."
   They thought for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"  The old Cherokee replied, "The one you feed."

This past Saturday and Sunday I had the great opportunity and privilege to be in the company of Grandmother Margaret Behan, an Arapahoe/Cheyenne woman who is a member of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers.  The work of these 13 women began in 2004.  They represent a global alliance of prayer, education and healing for Mother Earth & all her inhabitants, her children & for seven generations to come.  Listening to Grandmother Margaret reminded me of the previous story.  So many people in the world have suffered, and continue to suffer, so much.  There are many reasons that can be used to justify and rationalize their feelings that are represented by the first wolf.  And yet, the 13 Grandmothers, and so many people with them, are choosing to forgive, release and move beyond that first wolf.  They are standing up and feeding the second wolf - out loud in action and in quiet prayer.  Their old ways are in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of Nature and Life and they secure the ongoing health of all Nature and all Life. 

Most of us just "know" that we feel healthier and better when we're happy, sharing in friendship and kindness and service with others.  But for those who want harder evidence than just "knowing," there are many studies that confirm the presence and/or absence of various neurotransmitters that are known to correlate with a more or less cheery mood; that show that different hormones and immune factors are directly impacted by whether we're happy or angry; that people who give back to their communities in time and companionship live longer and healthier than those who do not. 

Grandmother Margaret is part of a global project, but she was quick to remind us all that global health and global peace is an inside job.  It starts right here with us.  As we say that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link - our global health and peace is only as strong as our individual health and peace.  We must start with ourselves.  We must feed the second wolf - recognizing, encouraging and bolstering our feelings of Joy, Peace, Love, Sharing, Empathy, Compassion, etc. This will lead to our own improved health and trickle down through our families, our jobsites, our communities and the world.  That's my kind of trickle down economics!!

I challenge and encourage each of us to take a close look and determine which wolf you are feeding today.  Which wolf did you feed yesterday?  No matter where we are or what our circumstances may be, we CAN begin in some small way to focus on these more positive attributes.  Start a gratitude journal and list 5 things you're grateful for that happened each day.  Smile at yourself in the mirror each morning - and then smile at every person you meet on your way to work.  Volunteer even one day a month for some cause you believe is worthwhile.  Invite someone to share a meal with you - nothing fancy, whatever you're having. 
   If you're having difficulty with letting go of some of the negative characteristics of the first wolf, there are many avenues to explore that help reframe your experience and be free of its weight.  The first step is just realizing that it's a struggle for you!  Seek out a support group or counseling or an experienced advisor.  It is possible to have that first wolf ease its grip on your throat.  And not only is that a good thing for you, it's ultimately a good thing for those around you and even the Earth.

If you're interested in the work of the 13 Grandmothers, follow this link:  Grandmothers Council