I hope everyone had a really great and safe Halloween! Thanks for your patience in getting this post published. Halloween and fall are honestly my favorite times of the year, but as mid- semester rolls along and the time begins to change, ya girl becomes an 80 year old woman in fuzzy socks and her heated blanket. Where to find Alexandra after class and work, you ask???? Wrapped up in my favorite big blanket (thank you Ben for my awesome present!!!!), a cup of tea and my latest read.
Well, Happy November 1st. I have officially taken down all my fall decorations and have put in their place my Christmas ones. You don’t mess with Christmas when it comes to me. I was raised in the North Pole 2.0 (aka Branson, Missouri) and am used to celebrating Christmas starting in July.
Stealing this idea from my mother, (thanks mom) but for the month of November, I am going to compile a list of things that I am thankful for each week. Start today and examine all the things (big or small) you are thankful for.
- My Family and Heritage
What does your family and history mean to you? To me, it means everything. Okay, so if you didn’t know yet, I’m Greek, and my last name is although spelled Tsahiridis, it is pronounced Sac-a-reed is. Weird, huh?
I was raised being told that ‘if I was Greek, I’m great and if I’m great, I’m Greek”. You get the picture? Lot’s of pride in my heritage. And no, I don’t have the family crest tattooed on my back…. yet. I do however have the Mati tattooed on the back of my neck.
Some history on the Mati, or Evil Eye as some call it: The Evil Eye is believed to be a curse that is given by a glare that has negative intention. Any negative emotion can cause the evil eye (mati) curse, such as anger or even jealousy. It is even believed that the curse itself causes bad things to happen to the person who has received the curse, such as headaches or even a string of “bad luck”. Wear a special evil eye charm, also called a mati, is said to help prevent the curse from even happening. Weird, I know. It is of course tradition but hey, in the spirit of Halloween, curses are totally in, right?
If you have seen the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding…. Well it’s my life. Link to the highlights of the movie below. If you know me at all….. This is literally my life, if I were to marry a non-Greek.
So to end this week’s post, I want to say I am thankful for family, tradition, and being Greek, and did I mention TRADITION ??? (this video is from Fiddler on the Roof and is literally my village back home in Greece.. Enjoy.)
Today’s Mantra:
“I AM sending love to my family & friends in the formless & to my ancestors. May all be healed & returned to Love.”
Love more,
blessings, A
Little Alexx Blog 