I just got back from the docent holiday party at the wildlife museum I volunteer (and work) for. I am so amazed at how great I feel right now. How could I forget how wonderful I feel every time I'm there? How could I let months go by without visiting the animals? And how on earth is it possible that I never realized how appreciated I feel when I'm there?

Peggy was one of the first people to see me and she said, "Meghan! What a wonderful surprise!!" Then she gave me my new nametag and said she was so very happy to see me again. She said at least three times that she was glad I could make it. I was so surprised!

Then Ally and I sat together and talked a lot about a billion different things. Carrie said she was happy to see me and wished me a merry Christmas. Another docent said to me, "We need you back here!"

I was so elated at all the kindness I felt from so many different people. The atmostphere was so friendly, the food was so delicious, and the gift shop had such wonderful, asthetically beautiful gifts. I bought myself a Christmas gift: a dragonfly candle that is just too gorgeous! It's green and pink and it makes me feel good just to look at it. And I think it's important to have things like that in a home, don't you?

I walked out with Ally and we stood by her car in the light sprinkling rain talking about spirituality. It turns out we both love reading about all kinds of other religions, we both don't like the rules and rigidity of most organized religions, and we both feel very close to nature. Also, she is really into shamanism, which I've always liked but never known very much about. She is going to send me a paragraph explanation on what dragonflies mean as totem animals, because I've always felt drawn to them. She said dragonflies are her totem animal too. The things we have in common are really interesting!

After being at such a lovely gathering, and having such a great talk with Ally, I felt so uplifted, refreshed, and happy. The rain is so beautiful to me today, when often it brings me down. The yellow leaves on drooping branches look so bright and sunshiney as they sparkle with raindrops. The grey sky looks misty and mysterious. And the little raindrops fall playfully to the ground, just to be with the earth, and in such a subtle way that they couldn't possibly ruin anyone's day.

After being home for a little bit, I'll head back out into the world again. I'm going to get Joe's car smog checked, and then I'm going back to the wildlife museum for the staff Christmas party. I get to feel great all over again! I've decided it's really important to me to feel this good on a regular basis, so I am going to arrange my schedule so that I can do much more docent and hospital work for the wildlife museum. I miss it very much, and I owe it to myself to feel this energized and fulfilled as a regular part of my life.

I sure am glad I realized all this!! What a wonderful day!

~Meg