Even though some retail stores started displaying Christmas decorations on the heels of Labor Day, believe it or not, there is another holiday to celebrate this season. Yes, I am referring to the often overlooked holiday known in the United States as Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving for its focus on gratitude rather than material gifts, so, to honor Thanksgiving and all that we have to be grateful for every day, I hope that you will indulge me in the not-so-original practice of sharing three things each day over the course of the month for which I am grateful.
On a cold day here in Kentucky, one that found me mourning the loss of my friend’s twenty year old son, I was in a very reflective mood. Death, especially the death of someone so young, has a way of shaking one to the core, and it puts life and all of its nuances into perspective. It is a cruel reminder that life is precious and fleeting, and it begs us to live life fully and to appreciate all that makes our lives worth living.
So, as my heart goes out to my sweet friend, Dina and her family, I also find it bursting with gratitude for all of the things big and small that made this day special for no other reason than I was alive to experience it. So here are three of the many things I am grateful for today:
Solitude. As social as I am, sometimes, I crave time alone, and today, I got it and cherished it. There is something very reassuring and therapeutic about being alone in my own home, and I am glad that this form of therapy was available to me at a time when I most needed it.
My eclecticgroup of friends whose timing is spot on. Whenever I was in need of a laugh or kind word to provide respite from being alone with my thoughts, I received a call or a text from people who make my life a bit richer and fuller by their very presence. I may have been alone today, but they kept me from feeling lonely.
My big heart. At times, when it has been bruised or broken, I have cursed it, but today, I was reminded that this big heart of mine is one of my greatest assets. For it allows me to love others and myself unconditionally and fiercely, and it motivates and inspires me to live life out loud. I may get hurt following my heart, but I would risk being hurt than hurting myself or someone else by not taking a risk.
And so begins a month of gratitude sharing here, and if you are so inclined, please, feel free to share your own gratitude list. Gratitude is the foundation of kindness, so, make sure that your foundation is strong and solid, and spread some kindness this month and beyond.
Aw, thank you so very much for sharing such a nice compliment! I am fortunate to have some amazing people in my life who both make my heart happy and who allow me to love them with all of my heart.
I am with you about Thanksgiving but Veteran’s Day(Nov.11th) is one where every American should active reach out to a Veteran and thank them. I am going to Andersonville GA that day where along with a civil war prison there is a POW museum and National Cemetery..
Thank you for reminding everyone about Veteran’s Day, as every single veteran deserves to be thanked and honored. May we all remember them on November 11 and every other day, as well.
Wow 30 days of gratitude is a fantastic idea. I look forward to reading your blogs for this month and after that too. My gratitude at the moment is to my girlfriend that dumped me, iam greatful of the short time we had together, she made me more happy than I have been in years lol.
Thanks for your interest and kind words! The way you found something to be grateful for in the end of your relationship with your girlfriend is admirable, as it is something that I have struggled with over the years. Too often I have focused on what is missing or what appears to have gone wrong, but over the past three years, I have to come to accept that there is something to be grateful for in every situation and every day. Thanks for sharing your own gratitude, and I hope we all can use this month to give thanks!
Kristi Jo, Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday period, with Christmas and its commercialization my least. In Charlotte, we honor the month as Homeless Awareness Month to try and increase awareness for those without shelter during the colder months and to remember those who passed away. I like the 30 days of gratitude concept. Well done, BTG
I am glad that I am not alone in my love of Thanksgiving, and I absolutely love the focus on homelessness this month in Charlotte! That is such an awesome idea, and I am grateful for the efforts being done there to end homelessness, which is a cause near and dear to my heart. Here’s to gratitude this month and every month!
Kindness Blog 
Reblogged this on That's Another Story.
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Thank God for you and your friends. There is an extreme world shortage of big hearts.
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Aw, thank you so very much for sharing such a nice compliment! I am fortunate to have some amazing people in my life who both make my heart happy and who allow me to love them with all of my heart.
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I am with you about Thanksgiving but Veteran’s Day(Nov.11th) is one where every American should active reach out to a Veteran and thank them. I am going to Andersonville GA that day where along with a civil war prison there is a POW museum and National Cemetery..
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Thank you for reminding everyone about Veteran’s Day, as every single veteran deserves to be thanked and honored. May we all remember them on November 11 and every other day, as well.
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Wow 30 days of gratitude is a fantastic idea. I look forward to reading your blogs for this month and after that too. My gratitude at the moment is to my girlfriend that dumped me, iam greatful of the short time we had together, she made me more happy than I have been in years lol.
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Thanks for your interest and kind words! The way you found something to be grateful for in the end of your relationship with your girlfriend is admirable, as it is something that I have struggled with over the years. Too often I have focused on what is missing or what appears to have gone wrong, but over the past three years, I have to come to accept that there is something to be grateful for in every situation and every day. Thanks for sharing your own gratitude, and I hope we all can use this month to give thanks!
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Kristi Jo, Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday period, with Christmas and its commercialization my least. In Charlotte, we honor the month as Homeless Awareness Month to try and increase awareness for those without shelter during the colder months and to remember those who passed away. I like the 30 days of gratitude concept. Well done, BTG
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I am glad that I am not alone in my love of Thanksgiving, and I absolutely love the focus on homelessness this month in Charlotte! That is such an awesome idea, and I am grateful for the efforts being done there to end homelessness, which is a cause near and dear to my heart. Here’s to gratitude this month and every month!
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It is nice to be grateful. It makes everything else better.
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Thank you so much, and I couldn’t agree with you more! Gratitude changes everything.
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Reblogged this on sueshan123blog.
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Many thanks for reblogging this!
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