gratitude

It’s raining…

If you were brave, I said to myself, you would stop to take a picture of this.

I admitted I was not. I was slogging through leaf-infested water puddles and being blown by the wind. It was quite delightful.

Gratitude 365

It’s become a trope that we meet difficult times with a contradicting list of thanks. Just because it feels clichéd or rote doesn’t make it bad advice.

The season of thanks giving should not be the last word on gratitude.

Finding the grateful in even the awful helps us. It’s not Pollyanna speaking when I say make it easier on yourself by looking at the plus-side.

Sometimes we have to dig deep to find anything for which to be thankful. It’s that digging deeper that helps put everything in perspective. Perspective is often what stops us from dissolving into depression.

You might find positives in inanimate objects- in nature or a favorite scarf, but you need to embrace the people who help you in the smallest of ways. Friends, neighbors, strangers can help you put a grip on that perspective.

Reaching out to express our thanks to those to whom we are grateful connects us. This closes the circle of gratitude and opens our hearts.

It’s not sappy. It’s human.

Observed today

These two illustrated vehicles both represent some good transit options. The dismantled yellow bike no doubt the better of them.

Simon is cutting hair today. Salvo’s is closed. An uneven start to finding open establishments.

I saw the first poinsettias of the season today. Wanted to shout that at the young man making the delivery but his earbudds precluded meaningful communication.

It’s warm for Thanksgiving Thursday.**

**I added the unnecessary “Thursday” in case they turn the holiday into an official long weekend. It would then come complete with its own sales day.

There are places to sit. I know I mentioned this before but Le Petit Parisien has an excellent cappuccino. You know where else the coffee’s good? My local D’Agostino. Yeah, I too was surprised.

Tis the

Wishing you the best for the holiday season.

Thanks Giving is the kick-off event.

Kick-off in more than one sense as football is such a big part of the day.

We go from here. Turkeys have been pardoned, although many more have been roasted. Pies have been baked or bought and consumed along with much more.

Sated, we are prepared to be grateful for all we have and all we share.

The day itself is a ritual of gratitude. It’s a reminder to us that we have it pretty good.

Gratitude is not a bad rite to celebrate. We could, really give it our full attention- without the distractions of turkey, pumpkin pie and football- 365 and on those leap years 366.

It’s Thanksgiving, a holiday designed for the expression of gratitude. I am happy to join in the festivities.

Thankful, I am thankful for nice days, rainbows, love, and laughter. I am grateful for both adversity and tranquility in the downs and ups of life.

No feast is necessary to celebrate. Don’t get me wrong, I like a nice turkey wing and some pecan-laden stuffing but I don’t need the poultry to underscore my appreciation.