Giving Thanks

Friends, instead of creating a lame Thanksgiving poem of my own (I'll save that for Christmas!), I've decided to post something short, sweet, and meaningful by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food,

For love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

I'll return to the blog on Tuesday, November 27th. In the meantime, I wish you all a happy, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving.

Where will you spend Thanksgiving this year? With family? Friends? Volunteering? 

And...this is important...are you the brave soul who cooks the turkey? Or does someone else have the honor of reaching into the cavity and pulling out the parts? Inquiring minds want to know!

photo credit

Writers Giving Thanks

We give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. ~Author Unknown

As Thanksgiving draws near, it's a great time to reflect on what we're thankful for. I'm sure the blogosphere will be 'stuffed' with many fabulous posts about giving thanks, and I'll add this one to the table.

There are constants in my regular life that I'm grateful for -- faith, family, and good health. Here are some things we can be thankful for in our writing lives:

• Evolving skills. We're not the same writers we were 12 months ago. Published or unpublished, we're constantly learning and growing.
• Seeking publication in this time of amazing opportunities. The industry is shifting before our eyes, and new avenues for publication are opening up.
• The blogging community. We all learn from each other, and I love how we're on this wild ride together. Bloggers and Tweeters are so generous with information and inspiration.

In your regular life and/or your writing life (and whether or not you celebrate the American holiday) what are you thankful for this year?

Sorry about the questionable photo. I couldn't resist!

Thanksgiving in July

"Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel." - Author Unknown

This may sound corny, but I keep a thankful journal. Almost every day, I jot down what I'm thankful for. Some days my hand tires from scribbling a long list. Other days I have to dig. Deep.

If someone scanned my journal, they'd notice it reads like a Thanksgiving version of Groundhog Day. Repeat visitors to my journal are: a loving and supportive family, good health, and passion for the written word. Sometimes I'm just thankful for being thankful.

And now I'm also thankful for the blogging and writing community. The support and encouragement that's spread around blows me away. Plus, I'm amazed by what I learn from all of you. Thanks!

Tell me, what are you thankful for today?

photo credit: www.dailywaste.com