I just want to start off with “Thank You” for being a part of my life and reading my blog posts as this will be my 22nd post.
I have been traveling a lot lately again for work and had a lot of time to think on my way to Cooperstown today about being grateful. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for a few reasons; there isn’t a lot of running around, it isn’t about gifts, I love the food and spending time with my family and the traditions we have, but most importantly it is a time to reflect.
Why do we usually only reflect and are thankful at this time of year? Why don’t we say what we are THANKFUL for everyday? I always see on Facebook in the month of November those that post everyday what they are thankful for. I never did understand this but maybe it is just their time to get it in the open. Why not wake up every morning and be thankful that we got to wakeup and have a day to enjoy? I know this is hard to do from experience as most days my brain is worried about something or isn’t happy with something so it is hard to be in the moment. I have been trying to change my ways with baby steps. I really try to let people know how thankful I am to have them in my life as I think we should all do this a little more.
There is a lot of things I can be Thankful for as you read during my Thankful 100 post however the things that I’m thankful for most come in small packages and are not material things. We are always wanting more as a society….more money/salary, nicer car, bigger house and the list goes on. What about being thankful for what we already have? We just bought our first house at the ages of 33 & 34 and will probably be in it forever and that is good enough as some are homeless. I cherish and am thankful for every moment I get to spend with my daughter and husband and wished I had more time with them. I am thankful for new friendships this past year as my eyes have been opened to the world more and my heart has been filled with laughter and joy. The times I get to be with my sister and just laugh as she usually is having fun and enjoying every moment and is so full of life. Then there is moments with my parents where I watch them play with my little girl and remember when I was little and how they cared for me and raised me to be who I am. I am thankful for every moment I get to spend with my grandmother as there will come that day when it won’t be possible and my time with her is priceless as I just love listening to her talk and her hugs. So as you can see I don’t need more as I have the moments and memories to last a lifetime and I am able to create more of those as I try to live in the moment. Time is a precious gift……
We use to spend our Thanksgivings on my Grandmother’s farm and now that too is a memory, however one tradition will live on with my little family……
It is Thanksgiving morning and as we would get out of bed there would be wonderful smells coming from Grandma’s kitchen. My sister and I would always pull apart the bread for the stuffing. I would put the sugar and butter on the lefse and let’s be honest, I ate some too. However, the one tradition that I will forever hold on to is when preparing the Turkey we would always make sure we would take out the wish bone and dry it and once it was dried either my mom and I or my grandma and I would make a wish (mine every single year was for everyone to be happy) and then we would put it apart. Whomever had the part with the most bone would be the winner and the wish was supposed to come true. Of course, I’m sure the wishes probably didn’t come true but being in that moment and knowing what it is all about is priceless as I will probably never get to do that with my grandma again but it will be with me always (tears).
A necklace that I wear to remember! Make a Wish!:)
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and remember to cherish the moments and time you have with all your loved ones. Live in the moment!!!
Music has been all over the place lately and I have been listening to 101.9 out of Fargo so here are some fun tunes (Click On Links Below To Listen):
“Go ahead release your fears, stand up and be counted
Don’t be ashamed to cry”
Don’t be ashamed to cry”
“Feel the moment slip into the past
Like sand through an hourglass
In the madness, I guess, I just forget
To do all the things I said”
Like sand through an hourglass
In the madness, I guess, I just forget
To do all the things I said”
“I’m a whisper lost upon wind
I’m the ember that will burn you down
I’m the water that will drown you
I’m a star that’s just a black hole now
I’m a terrifying danger
I’m fruit decaying on the ground
I’m a swallower of anger
I’m the tree that falls and makes no sound
I make no sound…”
I’m the ember that will burn you down
I’m the water that will drown you
I’m a star that’s just a black hole now
I’m a terrifying danger
I’m fruit decaying on the ground
I’m a swallower of anger
I’m the tree that falls and makes no sound
I make no sound…”
Until Next Time………
Traveling With Jo 