Month: November 2024

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Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

Last week, as I drove down Wiley Canyon Road on the way to work, I got goosebumps. It was windy and cold but the canopy of trees that bridge the sky had exploded in full fall festival. Warm yellows, firecracker reds, and glowing browns adorned the heavenly landscape. Wisps of wind carried retired leaves across my windshield, delicately drifting down to speckle the gray pavement and manicured lawns with their delightful autumn palette. Fall is here, embracing us with its colors and cool kiss. 

Thursday is Thanksgiving! That means the seasonal activities are in full swing. My son is flying home this year, and we are hosting my nephew and his family for the Thanksgiving feast. We are busy buying the fixings, cleaning up the house and stocking the woodpile for the cold winter nights. I’m ready for the family time, puzzle time, play time and even quiet time. They are on their way. But around all of that, is a time for giving thanks. It’s a great time to pause and reflect on all that the year has given us and be grateful. It is a time to appreciate and recognize our blessings, the help from others, the joy, the experiences, the accomplishments, and the learnings.

Look, I get it. It’s hard to be thankful when things don’t seem to be going right, when we are disappointed, when we get bad news, face hard issues, difficult relationships or dreams unfulfilled. I know that. I understand the challenges and losses that often come our way. But can I encourage you today to swim around in the soup of all the things this past year handed you and look for that golden nugget of goodness that came your way? Maybe it was a kind word, an enjoyable discovery, or a peaceful moment. I suspect you have something. Hold it in your hand right now. That is yours, my friend. It belongs to you. Don’t let it escape! Hold it tight and let its joy wash over you. Appreciate it. Savor it. Smile! Let your gratitude build and radiate from you, changing your world and the world around you, one happy thankful thought at a time. 

I want you to know, I appreciate you! Thank you for reading this today. Thank you for making this year so enjoyable and interesting. We dreamed, we planned, we accomplished much… and there’s much more to come!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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2024 Vote and Seasonal Decor

I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to getting past US election Tuesday so my cell phone can get a break from the texts and telemarketers, and we can get on to being flooded with black Friday ads instead. It does occur to me that it would be extremely hard to forget to vote with all the media channels blasting reminders to us. I love how the State of California even sends out notices, including step by step “your ballot is in the mail to you” to “your ballot has been counted” updates. They have better ballot tracking updates than Amazon does for shipping! Anyway, if you are a US citizen, do democracy a solid and make sure you vote.

Trees and lights! Our annual ritual begins. I know, you probably complain about the way-too-soon sprouting of Christmas trees next to the Halloween decor at your local retailer. I laugh about it myself, but I confess, we religiously open the attic on November 1st to unleash the holiday cheer for our home too. Down comes the tree boxes. Plastic bins packed with lights, ornaments, greenery, golden treasures, and silver bells all parade down the steps to the main hall. Popping sounds are heard across the house as the boxes unleash their seasonal joy. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Michael Bublé paint the air with their familiar festive vocals. The Keurig sets aside the coffee pods and begins churning out hot chocolate, heavy on the chocolate. Slowly the scent of jubilation can be felt everywhere!

Pass me the ibuprofen! This weekend I strung the lights on the house, across the back woods and onto the fence. It takes a solid day and about a week to recover. I’m pretty much a wimp. Lifting, wrapping, hanging, draping, and zip-tying all that specular magic in place pushed me past my regular “I can push the J key” hard work. But oh my goodness, as night fell last night, our yard erupted once again with the multi-color sparkling madness that is the seasonal decor. That’s right! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I’m sure our neighbors love us.

The holiday season can be stressful. We have so much we want to do. There are things to buy, people to see, tasks to get done. But don’t lose sight of the joy! If you feel overwhelmed or anxious, pause and reflect. The miracle of merriment presents itself when we get a chance to enjoy our labors, savor the beauty around us and spend time with the ones we love. So, yes, if you are crazy like us, pull down those boxes. Hang up the delightful decor. Cuddle up next to some cozy memories. Reminisce and appreciate the season. Share time with your loved ones… oh yes, and vote.