Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States. As we’re looking forward to spending time with family and friends, I think it’s important not to lose sight of the true meaning of the holiday: a time to count one’s blessings.
I keep a gratitude journal: each night before I go to bed, I list at least three things I was grateful for that day. Gratitude is a powerful force. It shifts your mood and your thoughts from a place of lack to a place of abundance. Gratitude is all about being in the present moment, and appreciating what’s around you.
Several years ago, I started my tradition of making a “Thanksgiving ABC’s” list. Some of the items on the list repeat year after year, others are new. Here’s this year’s list:
A: Allegra
B: Being my own boss
C: Cats, of course!
D: Dark chocolate
E: Eating out – one of my great pleasures in life
F: Facebook – I continue to marvel at the connections is enables us to make
G: German language. This year, I joined a German conversation group so my German wouldn’t get completely rusty, and it’s not only been a lot of fun, I also made some wonderful new friends.
H: my home
I: my independence
J: Joy
K: Kaffee und Kuchen – a German tradition of having a sweet treat with a cup of coffee in the afternoon
L: Lebkuchen (a type of German Christmas cookie)
M: Marzipan (we’ve got a food theme going on here, don’t we!)
N: New York City, my favorite city in the world
O: Organic products
P: Purring
Q: Quiet reflection – it’s essential for my mental well being
R: Ruby
S: Shankminds. I joined this Mastermind group of brilliant business people in February of this year, and it’s changed not just my business, but my personal life in unexpected and wonderful ways.
T: Tortitude
U: Uber, because it makes getting places so easy and stress-free
V: Veterinarians, for all they do to make cats’ lives better
W: Walking. I couldn’t function without my daily walks.
X: X-mas. Even though I’m not crazy about this abbreviation of Christmas, I can never think of anything else that starts with X, and I do love Christmas!
Y: You – our readers!
Z: the Zoomies – it’s what I call it when Ruby races through the house like a crazy kitten for no reason at all
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I love when you post this list each year…I love the new additions too. I MUST take your example and start DAILY WALKS!!!!!! I AM going to do it!
Just do it, Caren! 🙂
I always look forward to your Sunday reflection, not that I don’t enjoy the other days!
Great article and room for thinking about my own life.
Thanks!
I’m so glad you enjoy my Sunday column, Pete.
I am grateful for my online friends and my kitties. Have a great week.
You have a great week, too, Sue.
Ingrid,
AM thankful for many things. The list is long. But… I AM THANKFUL/DELIGHTED THAT I CAME ACROSS AND JOINED CAT CONSCIOUS!
Aww, thanks, Nancy! I’m so glad you found us, too!