#88- I am thankful for the "holiday spirit."

I know not everyone agrees with me on this, but I LOVE Christmas-time and the holidays. I'm not Christian AND I've worked in retail, two things that should make me less enthusiastic about this time of year. But there's something about the decorations, the movies, the carols, the sights and smells of Christmas that I just LOVE.  I love classy holiday decorations and I love the tackiest of holiday decorations. I am in all my glory wearing an ugly Christmas sweater and gaudy Christmas headbands with antlers. I just love it.

I've got the Christmas spirit and it's hard to deny. Even though the "holiday spirit" is something that is primarily felt this time of year, I wish that people could be generous, thoughtful and kind the whole year through. The concept of giving to those in need and being kind to others should be something that isn't ignored once Christmas is over.  I wish that that the idea of holiday spirit could be spread throughout the year and that it was a part of our everyday human spirit.

I am thankful for the holiday spirit and I am going to try to keep it all year through.

#87 I am thankful for shared recipes.

This Thanksgiving, our meal was made that much better because of shared recipes. Both family and friends were a part of our meal even though they were not actually with us for dinner.

I am thankful for recipes that are passed down through families and become traditions at holidays and other special meals. These traditions help us stay close to our families even though they may live far away or are no longer with us.

Just as our lives have been shaped by our families and the people we hold close to our hearts, our meal was also shaped by our loved ones. While our Thanksgiving table only had 2 people seated at it, while preparing the meal, eating and enjoying our food, we were thankful for the people in our life.

I am thankful for my quiet Thanksgiving that was made better by people who shared their delicious recipes with me.

#86- I am thankful for bedtime stories!

#86- I am thankful for bedtime stories.

(A follow-up to the previous post)

I love reading. I love books. I love reading books to children! I love when children enjoy being read to!  

I am thankful for each and every bedtime story that I have read and all the bedtime stories that were read to me.  I remember being read to as a child and loving every moment. I loved listening and using my imagination. And I love being able to give children that opportunity as well. It's such a special bonding time between a child and an adult. Bedtime stories can be soothing and calming. Bedtime stories can inspire. Bedtime stories can enrich your life.

Every time I read a bedtime story to children I'm transported to a sweeter, more gentle time when things were simple and life wasn't quite as complicated.  It's hard to become overwhelmed with doubt and sadness but when I read bedtime stories to children, I'm able to be present and in the moment and not focus on the things that give me stress.

I look forward to every moment where I'm able to read to children and would love to be able to do it more often! 

#84 and #85- What are kids thankful for?

I asked a pair of 4 year old twins what they were thankful for and the responses are as follows.

(#84) Twin 1- I'm thankful for you! (I then received a hug which completely melted my heart.) I am thankful for my sister! I am thankful for my mom and dad! I am thankful for everyone else!

(#85) Twin 2- I'm thankful for EVERYBODY! When I asked her to elaborate I recieved a "I'm just thankful for everybody!"

I then got to snuggle them while reading bedtime stories. These are the moments that I am thankful for. I am thankful for these darling children!

#83- I am thankful for the man on the L Tuesday night.

Living in a city means that I take a lot of public transportation. Buses and trains are a daily part of my life. More often then not, this involves seeing and smelling things that are unpleasant, getting pushed and shoved without an "excuse me" and being a part of the "rat race."

Every once in a while I have an experience on the train or bus that makes me feel better about humanity.  Sometimes that means that someone offered up their seat to someone in need, someone helping someone else with their belongings, or seeing someone say "thank you" to the driver or operator.

Tuesday night was a stressful night. Anxiety was practically seeping out of my pores. Election night seems to bring the best and the worst out in people. I left work and made my way to the train.  While waiting for a train there was an older gentleman singing beautifully. He wasn't a street performer or asking for money. He was just another commuter who was singing. He was singing Nat King Cole's "Smile." While a heartbreaking song, it was an amazing experience.  The sound of his voice was melodic and warm and brought a sense of peace.  It was as if his voice had the power to ease all of my stress and anxiousness.

When the train approached I made sure to get on the same train-car that he got on.  I ended up sitting relatively close to him and he continued to sing. Instead of ignoring this man's singing, it was as if the other passengers were hypnotized by this beautiful music. Everyone was paying attention and you could feel the stress just melt off of everyone. It was a wonderful experience.

At the end of one of his songs I had to tell him how much I appreciated his singing. I lightly touched his arm and told him that his voice was beautiful.  He said, "Thank you. Singing makes me feel good." I told him that it made others feel good too. He continued singing and I was almost sad that I had to get off the train. I wanted to ride with him for longer.

I am thankful for this man with the beautiful voice and for his amazing talent. I am thankful for how he made me and the others around him feel.

#82- I am thankful for being overwhelmed by love.

Lately I've been in a funk. It's as if a gray cloud has made it's home directly over my body, mind and soul. Occasionally there is angry, sad, frustrated rain that falls from this cloud. Things have felt colder, darker and well, less fulfilling. I haven't been able to find the joy and happiness that usually lives somewhere just below my rib cage.  It's been a lot harder to find things to be thankful for, hence the lack of posts.  I know this is when I need to find things to be thankful for  even more, because I need to remind myself that there is goodness, light and peace in our hectic world.

So, here I am, writing this entry.  I do apologize for the lack of thankful posts. I've needed them, but just haven't had the energy needed to try to cheer myself up. 

That is why I am so thankful for the times when I feel as if I could burst because of the love I feel in my heart. This love is often due to special people who have touched my life or special moments that I will cherish forever.  These moments usually happen suddenly and when I least expect it, but it feels almost as if a warm blanket of love is wrapped around my shoulders and there is a sense of peace in my heart. It's as if there is pressure in my chest as my heart expands with hundreds of tiny little red puffy hearts full of joy.  This is usually when my eyes fill with happy tears because this sense of love is so powerful.

I am so very thankful for the ability to love and to be loved by others. These kinds of moments are powerful and relatively rare. They remind me that there are wonderful people in my life and in the world. These people bring light and happiness to the people around them and radiate joy.

Thankful #81- Reconnecting

There are people who touch our lives and our souls who we love dearly no matter how long we may go without seeing or speaking with them.  There is a place in my heart for specific people who have made a meaningful impact on my life but for unknown reasons, I've lost touch with.  It could be physical or emotional distance, busy and hectic schedules or reasons that are unknown to both parties, but I still cherish these people deeply.

Thanks to the internet and my mild addiction to Facebook, I've been able to reconnect with many of these people. Seeing someone who I've always had very fond memories of and feelings for, after MANY years, is a wonderful feeling.  Being able to reconnect in person, even if for a short period makes me feel re-energized and motivated as well as nostalgic and loved.

I'm very thankful for the opportunity to reconnect and reunite with people who inspire me to be a better person and to seek greater things in life.

People may come and go in our lives, but their very being can leave a huge impression on us. Even if reconnecting isn't possible with every person I've lost touch with, I want to express my appreciation for the love, support and friendship I've received throughout my life.

I am thankful for reconnecting with old friends.