The Joydancer Weekly Word and News
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Looking for Love in
All the Right Places
November 26, 2008
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"Thanksgiving and Gratitude"
. . .from Chacala, Nayarít, Mexico
I am writing this from semi-troical Chacala, Nayarít, Mexico, my winter home. I am wearing shorts because it is so very warm this evening.
I am grateful to be here in a place, in a climate, and with people that all resonates so clearly with who I am. "Back home" in the USA people are celebrating Thanksgiving Day Thursday. It has something to do with Pilgrims with funny hats, maybe Indians, and for sure turkeys. And gravy.
One of the restaurants here on the
beach is offering the full Thanksgiving meal. I am not sure how that would work for me, bare feet in the sand, eating a heavy meal like that-- which, of course, is part of the tradition. I may go for the social experience, to see who is in town, meet some new folks, etc. There aren't many gringos here (yet) so it might be fun to find people with whom to share my love of Chacala -- and eat turkey on the beach...??
So, Gratitude. We always have a choice. Are we going to be afraid of losing the things we have, or grateful for being blessed by having them...? I drove to Puerto Vallarta today, to buy some cabinets for my new house (new Home Depot!). It's a 90 minute ride on a narrow, mountainous road, with no shoulders, and filled with slow trucks, fast buses, and everyone passing everyone else. A white-knukle experience for me. Part way into the ride I noticed how tense I was, and realized I was attached to a simple outcome: "Survival!"
 I took some deep breaths, and immediately switched from my fear of loss to the gratitude for my good truck, being in such a beautiful place, for my new house here and the financial support to improve it, and for the flowers and butterflies that are everywhere here now. And ultimately, my gratitude for the very Life that I had been afraid of losing.
We cannot be in fear and gratitude at the same time. My gratitude completely relaxed my body, and actually made me more present to drive well. And I found the perfect cabinets for the kitchen, and survived the return trip.
Thanksgiving and Gratitude. I don't know when you will read this. It doesn't matter, because every day can be Gratitude Day. Be grateful and you will be in love. IN love. Like a place. We can be guaranteed that we will lose everything we ever have-- including Life itself. Really knowing that can help us to surrender our illusion that we can control outcomes and let go of our fearful attachments. We can become grateful for the multidinous gifts of life, and be absolutely present in each and every moment that Life offers us.
Happy Gratitude Day! Happy Gratitude Moment! It is yours!
Photo by Me
Thank You, Life.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞§∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
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The New Invention: Work/Study in Chacala!
Kevin and Karen and I invented a new "program" when they volunteered to come down and help out with my Chacala house. We worked, we talked, we ate, we worked and talked and ate some more. Here is what Karen wrote about it:
 "Chacala is a charming Mexican village full of smiling, friendly, and hospitable people. Rather than setting formal times to work on Allan's house, then work on Toltec philosophies, and then have recreational time, we just put it all together. As we worked, dined, and played, we shared time identifying our judgments, freeing ourselves from our strategies, and generally raising our awareness.
"It was like a Toltec applied knowledge lab, and we learned how we can integrate our Toltec teachings into everyday life situations at home and it has made the teachings so much more meaningful. I hope everyone has a chance to experience what we did in Chacala with Allan."
There is nothing on the Joydancer.com website yet about these possibilities, but you can give yourself this opportunity, too. Contact me directly and soon!
ˇˇ I still have space for a couple of personal intensives. Write!
allan@sonic.net
Skype and landline below.
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VALENTINE'S WEEK IN CHACALA IS ROCKING!
February 9 ~ 13, 2009.
Come and join me for this very special week together in Chacala for Valentine's week, for couple and singles. We are going to go deeply into my Five Agreements to Make Love Come True.
Read my Five Agreements here.
Now is the time to book this week (or more!) while you still have a choice of accommodations and travel arrangements. Get away from the cold and get into a dynamic and healthy relationship with yourself, loved ones, and all of Creation.
Chacala is 90 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico's sunny Riviera Nayarít. It is a small fishing village with the prettiest, empty beach you will ever enjoy. Chacala won't last much longer this way, so come now!
Valentine's Week details and a photo link are here.
After Valentine's Week 2008, Marta wrote:
"It was a beautiful thing to be with you for five days at Valentine's, walking the journey of my heart with your guidance. Thank you for the opportunity, and thank you, Allan, for your sweet love, and wisdom."
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