I first started making lists of things I'm thankful for about 10 years ago when I read Simple Abundance by Sara Ban Breathnach. I can honestly say that the small act of writing down my blessings changed my life. I gradually turned away from focusing on what was lacking, and began to recognize how lucky I am.
So here we go!
Today I am thankful for:
- The clear blue skies of Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Having the day off from work
- An absolutely wonderful review of The Christmas Village over at Just Jingle's blog
- This new start my husband (aka RVPainter) and I are making in our lives (sold the house and buying an RV to travel around the country in next year)
- My husband, for so many reasons, but today's reason is for being willing and eager, at the age of 71, to set off on this adventure!
- Robyn and Angela at WOW - Women on Writing - who are organizing my upcoming blog tour - those ladies are awesome.
- That I will get to see and spend time with my friend Darla next weekend - I haven't seen her in over four years!
- To have finally realized what I believe to be my purpose in life - to have written a book that I would have loved to read as a child.
- For my family of friends at YogaSource here in Santa Fe
- For that earthy smell of autumn leaves on the ground
- For really warm socks with bears on them, from a store in Shipshewana, Indiana (that's technically 11 things, but I REALLY love these socks :-)
I've got a guest post on Becky Povich's blog, and we'll be giving away a copy of my book. Stop over there and leave a comment, and you'll be entered. The post is called "Finding Your People," and it's about finding those real and true connections as a writer, with others here in Bloggi Land, and in every aspect of life. Becky is a warm and wonderful lady, and definitely one of "my people!"
This is such a wonderful idea. I know I have seen you mention Simple Abundance before, and I keep meaning to read it. I really need to do it!
ReplyDeleteLove your list, and love the bear socks! :D
Heading over to Becky's blog now.
What a wonderful idea!
ReplyDeleteJulie, the great thing about that book is that you can pick it up and read what it says for that day - there's an essay for each day of the year.
ReplyDeleteLaura - I'm feeling especially blessed and grateful these days. xo
Wonderful idea to have Thankful Thursday posts...I said this on Jingle's blog, but I'll say it here too...may have to steal that idea! :) Your book sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeletePamela, steal away! The more gratitude out there, the better! Thanks for coming by.
ReplyDeletethis is such a nice idea, I have a friend who does it regularly on her FB page and her blog.
ReplyDeletehave a great day, Debxx
Thanks for coming by Deb. Gratitude is a powerful thing!
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, I'm definitely thankful for them today - it's chilly! xo
ReplyDeleteI've thought about doing a thankful post each week, too, but I doubt it would be as good as this one!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you will be traveling around the country. And I'm excited for the launch of your book. That's wonderful that Women on Writing are helping you with the tour. I didn't do a major blog tour because it seemed so overwhelming. I just went with the offers to guest post. I do hope this is fun and successful for you! And I'm now heading to Becky's blog!!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteThankful Thursday is such a cool idea! Love that the socks came from IN, (maybe I will look for them!) The RV trip sounds exciting! :)
Ann, I did a little of both - my own blog tour plus the WOW tour. I can honestly say that having WOW manage it makes it much easier. Though now I have a lot of posts to write! Well, at least I'm writing...:-)
ReplyDeleteSarah, I got the socks in Shipshewana - Amish country. The store was fabulous - so many lovely things and the prices were great. I need another pair of these socks. We were there because Elkhart is the RV capital of the world, apparently, and that is where our RV manufacturer is. I'm VERY excited about our upcoming RV adventure.
Melissa: You said your ebook was $3.99, and I just bought it. I'm anxious and excited to read it!
ReplyDeleteAnn Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets
Ann, lovely - thank you! I have yours too. I'm lining them up to read when this book launch winds down. I'm eager to read the words of others!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa! Thanks for the mention of my blog! I love your Thankful List, too. AND I love your socks! I gotta have warm socks in cold weather because my feet are always cold. I'm so envious of your adventure of traveling in your RV! I still hope to travel (somehow) when my book (finally) is completed and published!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment on my blog - you made my day!
ReplyDeleteAnd there is so much to be grateful for, isn't there? I love the Thankful Thursday idea!
Thanks, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteAnd I will have to share the Elkhart RV info with my husband...He is convinced we are going to one day travel as a family in an RV! (I'm not sure our preschoolers are ready, but we will see!) :)
Becky, your blog followers are lovely - between yours and Jingles today, I've had more fun in Bloggiland than I have in ages!
ReplyDeleteJan,yes, sometimes we have to remind ourselves of that!
Sarah Elle, it really does have appeal, doesn't it? Small home, but a BIG backyard, as RVers like to say.
what a wonderful list! Traveling in an RV is something my husband and I talk about all the time.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joanne
Joanne, it seems like many people dream of this! I am such a homebody, so this is a big adventure for me. I think the blog will evolve to chronicle our adventures. xo
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower...I'm having a Week of Blessings at my blog and it will be a fun event (it's the week before Thanksgiving.) I love your list and your socks!!
Hi Cindy - nice to meet you! I hopped over to your blog and I love it! I'm following you too, and look forward to the week of blessings. I think November starts to put us in that thankful mood...
ReplyDeleteStopping by to say hello and thank you for making such a lovely comment on my blog :)
ReplyDeleteA dear college friend of mine gave me the Simple Abundance years ago...I must find it and read again.
So thankful today and always :) Have a wonderful weekend!
Love those socks! This is such a great thing to do...I have kept a journal like this as well. So happy for you that your dreams are coming true. Keep the RV rollin! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteOh yes, you are so right--November starts to put us in a thankful mood...I have a tutorial I just posted as I am on the design team of Dezinaworld. Anyway, it's for Victorian Christmas tags if you'd like to make some over the weekend!
XO
CIndy
Margie, Tracy, Cindy, I definitely feel like I've made some lovely new friends this week! I look forward to seeing what you do and say over on your blogs. Thanks for the visit. xo
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteAttitude of gratitude is the best thing, I say. I think we've read the same books. When my head hits the pillow at night, I recap the day with thoughts of gratitude for each thought that comes up.
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such a sweet comment. And a big thank you for being my new follower.
Warm hugs to you.
So much to be grateful for...this is also the topic on my blog this month.
ReplyDeleteGratitude for things that aren't so great is the tough one, but boy, does it change the way we look at difficulties when we can find a way to be thankful.
Grateful for you!
I have the BEST bloggi friends! :-)
ReplyDeleteGrateful for all of you, all the sweet comments, and the comraderie. I think I'll make this month all about gratitude to - I have so much to be thankful for!
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI read that book several years ago too!
Thanksful Thursday is a great idea..I'm thankful that the weather is finally cool enough to open the curtains and the windows. I'm thankful for the rain we've had here in the desert this week, for the friend who has loaned us a hard drive (because a hacker took out the other one), and for all the wonderful people I've met while working with WOW.
I'm also thankful for thick, squishy, colorful socks that bring a little fun to the day!
Robyn, those are beautiful things to be thankful for. I think sometimes when we remember to be thankful for those tiny things like raindrops, we feel so much richer and blessed. Thanks for the wonderful job on the WOW blog, you guys are terrific. We're getting some great comments over there.
ReplyDelete