Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays next to Christmas and Valentine’s Day. I relish the spirit and seasonal colors of this time. Thanksgiving is all about gathering together with family and loved ones, indulging in delicious food as the crimson and orange leaves fall from the trees outside. Then, Santa Claus comes riding in on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, heralding more holiday joy and festivities to come sweeping in throughout the following month. This holiday is the most wonderful beginning.
This year, I am more thankful than ever before. I believe one of the benefits of getting older (I enter my new year shortly after Thanksgiving) is that your attention is taken more and more to the moments of pure sweetness, happiness and gratitude for the amazing blessings you have, right here, right now.
So, without further ado- Thanksgiving 2022, I am thankful for….
1. My family. I feel so incredibly lucky to have such a creative, open to life’s possibilities and wonders kind of family. My grandparents, who lived through the Great Depression and everyday life and health struggles, left an indelible impression on me with the every day smiles I still remember despite them having passed away over twenty years ago. I remember the summer trips they took us on and the love they freely gave us despite how they were probably feeling because of their health. They were truly inspiring, and I still feel them with me in everything I do. My mom, she’s pure sunshine and magical life-filled spirit. My brother— he’s dynamic, creative, brilliant, and the one I can talk to about so many different things. He’s also my most favorite person to travel with. My Jack Russell Terriers— Holly (In Heaven) with her sassy personality, and My Alistair with me who adds such joy, energy, and humor to every single day. It’s said that some people really do have a type of pet that they stick with. I am definitely an incredibly proud Jack Russell Girl. Each Jack is unique, but each one is always filled with such energy and personality. And then, there’s my father. I admire his resilience and creative ability. I feel so very blessed with the family I have, including my creative cousins.
2. My art and sensitive heart— the books I have, the books I’m writing currently, and the ability to feel life deeply and turn these feelings into art that is hopefully enjoyed by others, and hopefully inspires all who read these books of mine.
3. The serendipity and endless possibilities in this life. I am thankful that life is filled with extraordinary beauty that gets your heart racing. I am thankful for the sweet surprises of life. I love that romance and deep connections come unexpectedly and are often beyond what you imagined. I am thankful for all the people who have entered my life, whether for a chapter or more, whether it was bitter, sweet, or in between. I don’t believe in the term self-made. I am an amalgamation of all of the people who have crossed my path and left an imprint on my heart, helping me better understand who I am and what I stand for. And, I am thankful that you can start something exhilaratingly new at any time and at any age.