On Thankgsiving and Thankfulness

It's that time of year again! We are well into the month of THANKS, the month where we start seeing the thankful posts of our friends, popping up everywhere on social media. It truly warms my heart when I read other people's thankful posts and I imagine that's what happens when they read mine (assuming they actually read what I have to say each night). What saddens me, is that once December 1 rolls around, the posts stop. If there is anything I've learned throughout my own thankful journey, is that the idea of being thankful should NOT be isolated to just one day (Thanksgiving) or one month (November) each year, but rather, it should be celebrated EVERY SINGLE DAY.

The older I get, the more I stand behind this idea. Mother's Day: why not celebrate your mom EVERY SINGLE DAY? Father's Day: ditto! Honor them EVERY SINGLE DAY! Valentine's Day: my goodness, shower those you love EVERY SINGLE DAY with acts of love and kindness! 

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday (followed extremely closely by Christmas) since I was a little girl. I remember waking up on Thanksgiving morning to the smell of dinner being prepared by my mom. The smell of turkey wafting through the house, mom's mouthwatering orange juice sweet potatoes, the rich aroma of green bean casserole......just thinking about it takes me right back to being a child at 405 White Street!!! I remember getting excited for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, especially the Snoopy balloon AND of course, Santa at the end!!! I remember waiting patiently for my grandparents to come to our house for the meal (and my Grandma Marilyn bringing the delicious filling and Grandma LaRue bringing the pies and pumpkin rolls!!!). Family all around the table together....giving thanks and feeling extremely blessed!

This year, Thanksgiving will be a bit different. Grandma LaRue won't be at the Thanksgiving table. There will be no GOBBLE til ya WOBBLE texts from Billy. It will be a bit different BUT one thing is for certain, we will still give thanks for all we do have and for the time we had with those we loved. I'm using Thanksgiving as a holiday of refocus this year. While we suffered some losses, we truly still have a lot to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving has always been, and will always remain, my favorite holiday. This year, I am putting out this challenge to anyone who reads this blog posting......let Thanksgiving be more than just one day. Keep your gratitude list going in the days, weeks, months, and even year ahead. By focusing on what you are thankful for, you will find even more blessings coming your way. Trust me! Expressing heartfelt gratitude each day, is one of life's greatest joys! I find myself smiling as I finish my nightly thankful posts, just being overjoyed at the blessings I have in my life, even when, at times, it doesn't feel as though I have much to be thankful for! Gratitude is the true heart of Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Let the whispers of your soul ROAR!

Dear Readers, 

Have you ever felt like you were being pushed, pulled, and maybe even shoved in every direction imaginable and felt as though you were simply going to just snap? Break? Fall completely apart? Lately, I’ve been feeling a lot like this, especially in my M-F daily work place. I’ve also had a lot of ‘other’ things swimming in my head, causing me to completely lose focus on the thankfulness goals I set for myself. I've forgotten what I enjoy doing FOR ME. I've forgotten what it is that makes my soul happy. Let’s explore just a little more, if you will.

Let’s face it. Jobs are stressful. I know people often say, ‘Find something you love doing and you won’t work a day in your life.’ While I am all about that idea, I also know that as much as I love my job and the wee ones I work with, many days as of late, my job stresses me out and it feels exactly like WORK. In my line of work (Special Education), I have multiple people pushing, pulling, and even shoving me in all different directions. I am at the mercy of the organization I work for, the school districts we service, the families of the children, and my own desire to be the best I can be. I seem to always have deadlines that must be met, changes to embrace, new methods to practice. I am sure you can all relate to this, regardless of the field you work in.

Add to the stress of work, we can all agree that we have personal stressors to deal with on a daily basis as well. Family requires our attention, bills require paying, and friends often require our help in one way or another. Being the type of person we are, we do everything in our power to help others before we do things for ourselves. We become so overwhelmed with the many different directions we are being tugged in, that we become all consumed by the stress and fail to recognize the little things that make life worth living! We stop Thinking Thankfully and allow the stress and negativity to take over.

Lately, I’ve felt as though I have had no real ‘me time’. Sure I like to go every two weeks to get my nails done. It’s a little bit of a pampering session JUST FOR ME. But that’s only every two weeks. My youngest daughter plays Varsity Basketball for the local high school. From November until now, my life becomes consumed with all things Basketball Mom related. I love it. But it really takes over my life and things I enjoy are put on a bit of a back burner. Yet another direction I’m being pushed, pulled, and shoved in. As I mentioned in the previous blog posting, lately I haven't been able to find time to just sit and write. Writing is my favorite method of expressing who I am. I have always enjoyed writing and have always held out the hopes that ONE DAY, one sweet day; I WILL BE a published author. I dream of being a bestselling author.  I dream a happy dream, but in the end, when the reality of the idea hits and I am forced to realize that this will probably, most definitely NEVER happen to me, I find myself wallowing in a bit of self pity, wondering why I even write in the first place. And that is no good for anyone. A happy life depends on us and no one else. We have to make the time to make ourselves happy before we can do for others and make them happy. We have to remember what makes our soul happy and then go out and do it, without worrying about anything else! Happiness has to begin with US. I enjoy writing for ME and whether or not I become someone well known because of it shouldn't matter in the end.

I guess I’ve realized that we must find that which compels our spirit and then just do it; much like writing for me. I’ve got to make the time, sit down UNINTERRUPTED, and write. Whatever flows out of me, whatever innermost whispers are struggling to be heard, I must make the time and write. I must bring a loud voice to my whispers.

Until next time…..

Think Thankfully

It's Monday.....don't forget to be awesome!!!!!

Just a little reminder today! Most people dread Mondays like they dread the flu. Don't let Monday get to you! There is no law that says Mondays HAVE to suck!! Take your positive attitude and make this a Monday worth remembering!!! Don't forget to be awesome today!! 

Until next time.........