Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com September 20, 2017 By Shanana "Rain" Golden-Bear Editorial LETTERS TO EDITOR POLICY Desert Messenger encourages letters from its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the community, keeping the benefit of all in mind. Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the location of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be pub- lished. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed. Mail letters to: Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 or E-mail to Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 O� T��� - E���� T���! Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 P�������� ����� � ����� 1st & 3rd Wednesday Sept. thru May with Special Summer Editions June, July & August EDITOR/PUBLISHER Shanana "Rain" BearCat CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST Joanne Winer GUEST COLUMNIST Jedidiah Free GUEST COLUMNIST Gypsy Jane Finley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE LETTERING Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.MyQuartzsite.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain Just Rambling... Provided by Elmer London, Quartzsite and Desert Messenger Well, hopefully the monsoons have come and gone, but left behind a few memories. ACs running day and night, roofing blowing around again and again. Most of us are taking it in stride. A few looking for someone too blame. Hey, Mother Nature, stop that right now. It doesn't work. DEADLINE : WED. SEPT 27 TH for the oct. 4 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like tak- ing poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fi ght when it is right to do so, and in the right way. But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fi t of temper. He fi ghts everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing. Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit." The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?" The Grandfather smiled and qui- etly said, "The one I feed." The phrase, "Attitude of Gratitude" is often heard in many circles in our society. We live a society that focuses on materialism and individuality. By comparing ourselves to others and focusing on what we lack we experi- ence an attitude of greed and envy. Science shows that that people who keep a gratitude journal report having more energy, improved mood, more life satisfaction, and are more supportive to others. Hav- ing gratitude helps us focus on the good things we have, and not on what we lack. Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as you ever can. Here in Quartzsite, we have many opportunities to be grateful. It's cooling down and the sun is shining. Our snowbird friends are returning, seasonal restaurants are opening, friends are gathering, fall is in the air. Sometimes we all just need a a little reminder to take a look at life from a different point of view; the one from a place of gratitude. I once witnessed a woman in crisis being asked to just stop, breathe, and fi nd 20 things to be grateful for...she was in such a panic that she had a hard time thinking, but eventually said reluctantly, "Okay, I have 10 toes, 10 fi ngers, does that count?" When asked why are you grateful for that, she began sharing how she uses her fi ngers to bead, how her toes allow her to walk and care for her children. Panic subsided and she made an instant shift of attitude. Some folks like to focus on the negative and how bad things are. Others work on fi nding solutions, giving their time and talents to help those in the community. The power of our community to come together and support each other is what makes Quartzsite amazing! Our churches share their generosity, our volunteers donate hundreds of hours to local organiza- tions, our elders share their wisdom, and our youth express their enthusi- asm; so much to be grateful for... The question remains, which wolf are we going to feed?

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