Happy Thanksgiving!

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” ~ Melody Beattie

Gratitude 

There is so much in life to be grateful for, though it may not always feel like it. It is the simple acts of waking up in the morning, breathing the crisp air, and being able to stretch. It is the privilege of being able to explore the world and experience new cultures. It is the people in our lives whether those bonded by blood, or the friendships we choose.

Gratitude in of itself is a mindset that makes living all the sweeter even when times feel turbulent or unsettling. Even in our darkest of moments, there is always something worth being grateful for.

While the US always celebrates Thanksgiving the third Thursday in November, we can and should be thankful each and every single day, even if it is something as mundane as drinking a great cup of coffee.

Gratitude Isn’t Settling

In a world where entitlement seems to be rampant, especially in us millennials (who get a bad rap if I do say my millennial self), it is important to reflect and appreciate on what we DO have. Striving for better and having goals is necessary especially if we want to grow, but so is realizing that it is okay with what we do have.

It is enough.

We are enough.

We don’t need to keep up with the joneses or be in vogue. We don’t need to strive for the best table settings, or cook the best turkey.

It is all about balance, and much of that is being grateful for what we already have in the moment. In a world where everything is splashed on social media, it is difficult to remember that. But being grateful for what we do have is also finding that happiness.

The People You Are With

As a child, my mom would read us holiday books befitting the season. One of them, Thanksgiving at The Tappletons was a funny anecdote about how everything that could did go wrong on Thanksgiving. And that while they may not have had a turkey or any of the trimmings, they had each other.

And that was all that matters.

Surrounding yourself with good people matters so much. The support, love, and even some cold hard reality checks that only trusted peeps can dish makes life all the sweeter especially on the holidays.

I have said it before, this life is not a solitary one and we need people. I have been so blessed for the family and friends who have graced my life, especially this last year. That includes my amazing fellow bloggers and everyone who has read and supported this blog. You guys mean the world to me. I am truly the luckiest lady in the world and it is what I am most grateful for. That and that amazing cup of good coffee!

Celebration

Thanksgiving has been that one elusive holiday that I seldom get to celebrate with my family. I have always been away or traveling. Rarely, especially as an adult, have I been home and this year I get to make into the exception. I get to celebrate with my family. Not just my parents (who I love to pieces), but my brother, SiL, her parents, and my beautiful nephews and niece.

It makes it all the sweeter. While the food is nice, and I will definitely be in a food coma tonight, it is the people that make Thanksgiving so special. Whether it is a Friendsgiving, like I have had the last few years, or spending it with family, (though in my opinion, and especially in my house growing up, the two were not mutually exclusive) I am truly grateful for another year to celebrate with the people I love.

Happy Turkey day everyone! Or should I say Tofurkey? I hope you all have an incredible Thanksgiving! <3

What are you thankful for this year? How are you spending Thanksgiving?