The Best Damn Newsletter in New Jersey!TM November 24th: Gobble, gobble, gobble as GAAMC Gives Thanks!
CHALLENGE T he New sl etter of the Gay Act iv is t Allian ce in Morris Cou n t y S e r v i ng New Jer sey’ s G LBTI Commu n it ies Con t in u ou s ly S in c e 1 9 7 2 V o lu m e 40 , I ssu e 9, No v e m be r 2 0 14
The Season of Thanks by Sherri Rase GAAMC is all about connection. From the moment of birth more than 42 years ago to the present day, we’ve existed to create a better world where all people are equal. This past year or so there have been many events that we may remember this month both at GAAMC Gives Thanks, our annual pre-Thanksgiving social, as well as traditional American Thanksgiving later this month. We spend so much time dwelling on the things we don’t have that we forget the blessings we enjoy every day. If you’ve ever struggled with mobility or health, you have a very different understanding of the pleasure of a beautiful day – one that might be free from struggle, stiffness, or pain. If your struggle has been with depression, being happy is a tremendous thing. If you’ve seen friends through difficult times with challenges like these, you have a different appreciation as well. By my reckoning, this is a passive gratitude. What would active gratitude look like? Active gratitude is giving back to your community. When you see something that needs to be done, just do it without caring who’s watching. We’re always being observed even when we don’t realize it, so consider the effect you have on someone who sees you pick up a piece of trash and put it in an outdoor wastebasket even though you didn’t throw it on the ground. The example you set when you open a door for someone, or offer help to a friend or family member not only helps the recipient. Observers see the modeling of good behavior and
soon the butterfly effect will magnify your efforts and reflect them in others’ good actions. Humans are programmed to reflect what we receive. Give this a try next time you’re in a crowd: Make eye contact and smile at the other person. 9 times out of 10, you’ll get a smile back. This is limbic brain stuff, and the smile you give that costs you nothing could make a life and death difference for the recipient. There’s a final type of thankfulness I’ll discuss and that’s retro gratitude. It can take two forms: one is “I’m thankful I know that NOW so I can avoid making that mistake again”; the other is “I’m thankful that XYZ awful event happened because it put me on the path where I am now, fulfilled and happy.” Often, we don’t see a crisis as an opportunity, but the Chinese character for both of those words is the same. Back to the personal for a moment… GAAMC Gives Thanks is our greatest event of the year. Those of us who have loving family get to start celebrating on Monday and continue through Turkey Day as a continuous moveable feast. Those of us who have family obligations that are more challenging get a chance to enjoy our GAAMC family in a convivial environment where everyone contributes a dish that is made with love and enjoyed by all. What will you bring for the feast? What will you celebrate? Welcome to GAAMC!
Inside Challenge
Challenge Information .................................... page GAAMC Events.............................................. page What's happening at our Monday meetings Bulletin Board.............................................. page Getting Personal........................................... page Good Eats! recipes........................................ page This Month's Contributors ............................... page Gleanings.................................................... page
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My Turn: an editorial.................................... page 6 Q-munity Calendar........................................ page 7 Giving Thanks? Why so few "Thank You"s?........... page 9 Board Minutes for August 2014....................... page 11 Marriage Equality: What Just Happened?.......... page 12 Dancing To Architecture................................ page 13 Music news and reviews with a queer ear GAAMC Information ...................................... page 14
Challenge is in color online, with more content at issuu.com/gaamc/docs!