Saturday, July 17, 2010

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

44 comments:

  1. Thankful for my husband, being alive, having lived so long, still able to travel,being able to write my books, for beautiful Shropshire where I live, I could go on and on...

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  2. LOL @ that picture!

    And, I <3 thankful journals. so, you know, bring on the corny! :)

    I have one too, but I'm not completely faithful to it...

    3 things I am thankful for:
    1. my oh-so-lovely guitar
    2. living in a sunny sunny place, even in the dead of winter, we're still in t-shirts! yay.
    3. that we have running water. you know, just sitting there for whenever I want to use it.

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  3. Out in the sun to long...I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come on over to my blog and check it out. God's blessings too you. Lloyd

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  4. Today I'm thankful for air conditioning. The temps here have been unseasonably warm this summer, reaching the mid 90's often. Today, more of the same, with high humidity too ... Bring on the a/c :)

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  5. Carole Anne, that is truly a blessing. I hope you both have many, many more years together.

    Nomes, it's nice to know I'm not alone in my corniness. And running water is a brilliant thing to be thankful for. We'd sure miss it if it wasn't there.

    Lloyd, I'd be happy to pop over and check out your blog! Thanks for stopping by mine.

    Joanne, a/c is such a treasure. Stay cool and enjoy your weekend!

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  6. I do this, too! I always list five things I'm thankful for after writing my Morning Pages. Sometimes I have to dig deep, and sometimes my thankfuls turn into more journal pages!

    My repeats are my husband, family, health, laughter, a kitchen filled with delicious food, my apartment, and overflowing bookshelves.

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  7. Laura, I like the idea of coming up with five things. That way, I'd have to look past my obvious choices. Thanks for stopping by!

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  8. I'm very thankful for the writers community and the blogging community as well. You wonderful people keep me going when the going get's tough. I'm also thankful for my wonderful agent and all the hard work he and his agency do for me. I hope some day soon I can repay them! Literally!

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  9. Heather, I'm sure you'll indeed repay your agent, in buckets!

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  10. I'm also thankful to the blogging community. It provides a wealth of writing advice and tips.

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  12. looking at this picture in your post I'm thankful I'm a vegetarian :))

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  13. Medeia, you're so right about that. I can't believe what I've learned, just by blogging in this community.

    Dezmond, your comment cracked me up! My apologies to you and other vegetarians out there. I hope this bikini-clad turkey doesn't ruin your day!

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  14. I'm thankful for pictures of turkeys with tan lines. Because, seriously, I had a hard time reading your post - my eyes just kept wandering..

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  15. Lisa, glad to amuse you today! Isn't that picture funny? Looks like it upset Dezmond's tummy though. Poor guy!

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  16. I'm thankful for too many things to enumerate. But lately I'm thankful that I still have my mom alive and well, supportive family and friends, a home that's comfy, divine blessings and a new laptop! Great post, B/T/W/...

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  17. I agree with the others - I'm thankful for AC and that picture. But I'll add to the list: Skype (so I can video conf. with loved ones who are far away), my noisy kids, fresh apricots off the tree...I could keep going. In fact, I think I'll go do another Beautiful Things post. It's been a while since the last one. Thanks for the reminder to focus on this stuff. :)

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  18. Lovely thoughts, Julie. Indeed there is so much to be thankful for. The list varies from the mundane to the spiritual, from the repeats (family, health, friends, etc.) to the seasonal - I am so thankful for the bounty of fresh peaches. Today I'm particularly thankful to the wonders of technology that allowed me a 3 hour conversation with my best writing buddy even though she now lives far away. We both came away rejuvenated and eager to write.

    And I'm thankful for all the new friends I've made through this blogging world.

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  19. Jennifer, what a lovely comment. It's wonderful that you're enjoying the time with your mom.

    MT, apricots off the tree...yum! That sounds especially good right now.

    MaryC, it's amazing that you were able to chat with a writing buddy who lives far away. Was it through Skype? Today's technology blows me away.

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  20. I am thankful for a safe trip to & from Chicago where the entire family managed to hold it together and no one lost their temper!

    I'm thankful for air conditioning and modern refrigeration...imagine what a pain in the arse it would be if we couldn't keep our milk/eggs cold?

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  21. Apart from the obvious things, for which I am grateful every day, I'm thankful I'm not a turkey (no comments from the peanut gallery). I'm also thankful to have blog-buddies who post questions that make me think!

    Hugs to you, Julie!

    Martina

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  22. I'm inspired by your journal, Julie! What a great idea! It's easy to forget to count our blessings and instead focus on what's wrong! Thanks for the reminder to keep focused!

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  23. Vickie, a successful family trip is definitely something to be thankful for!

    Martina, thanks for your two cents. You are definitely NOT a turkey!

    Jody, it truly is so easy to get consumed by the negative. The journal forces me to focus on the positive. You can't go wrong with that!

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  24. Cute picture! Every day should be thanksgiving, not just once a year (at least the giving thanks part, not the eating!). Great post sharing thanks and getting others to share theirs. I'm thankful for blogs like yours, the internet to connect with people I otherwise would never know, opportunities to share my own writing, and above all God (which covers absolutely everything!)

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  25. Connie, well said! Even though Thanksgiving is officially only once a year, we'll just take it upon ourselves and celebrate right now. Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  26. You know, I loved this post. SOmetimes I get so LOST in this work that I forget how lucky I am to get to be a writer. That's what I'm thankful for. Loved this!

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  27. Zoe, it's so easy to do! We get caught up and simply forget. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

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  28. A thankfulness journal is such a wonderful idea! Today I'm thankful that my son got off to his week at sleepover camp all right today, and of course for my wonderful family, friends, blogging buddies, good health... :)

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  29. Today I'm thankful I came here to see that turkey pic, as it gave me my first silly giggle of the day :)

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  30. Susan, I hope your son enjoys camp! You'll be missing each other like crazy in a couple of days.

    Cate, isn't that picture funny? My boys giggle every time I pop my blog screen up.

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  31. Today i am thankful to the inspiring writers like you, who show passion and determination for writing.

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  32. I hope I don't end up double posting, I just got an error message when I tried to post my comment!

    It really is amazing the power that thankfulness has on our lives if we choose to let it. A journal of thankfulness is a great idea!

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  33. Julie,
    Oh, I just love that picture!
    That is a really great idea and I think I'm going to have to adopt it. I am thankful for my sweet babies and husband. Oh and chocolate cupcakes with white icing! ;)

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  34. Hey Julie, No, we didn't chat on Skype although I was wishing she had access. I think because we know each so well and worked so well together for years that just talking on the phone tapped into all those old memories and it was as if we were sitting at my kitchen table.

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  35. Nithin, thanks so much for your kind comment. Thanks for stopping by!

    Stacy, being thankful does hold a lot of power...the good kind!

    Alexis, now I can't stop thinking about cupcakes! Yum

    MaryC, you're so fortunate to have such a wonderful relationship with your friend. That's definitely something to be thankful for.

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  36. I'm thankful that I get to see my family in California soon - I haven't seen them in almost 2 years!

    And thankful that we don't have to eat bikini-clad turkey while we visit. That picture strangely creeped me out! LOL

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  37. Today, I am thoughtful for my family -- especially my beautiful children and hubby. I am also very thankful for my writing partner, who somehow managed to get 10X more edits done on our novel yesterday than I did:-)

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  38. Way cool! I love how you put a positive slant on your life. :) Off the top of my head, I'd say I am grateful for family, friends, the fact I am writing and that I was able to talk the doctor out of a blood transfusion...lol. Personally I feel doctors excite too easily.

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  39. Julie...today I am thankful for getting uninterrupted writing time.
    The other things I should thank God for are:
    My loving parents,
    My sweet siblings
    My supportive friends
    And the awesome blogging buddies ( including you) who teach me in their own sweet way. :)

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  40. Susan, enjoy your time in sunny CA! That's where I live! Sorry about the bikini-clad turkey. Hope it didn't ruin your appetite.

    Lindsay, sounds like you have a motivated writing partner, who probably motivates you! That's great.

    Not needing a blood transfusion is definitely something to be thankful for!

    Rachna, uninterrupted writing time is golden! Thanks for your kind comment.

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  41. Julie,

    I do this too. In fact, I do a weekly post on my blog called "Gratitude Sunday." I think it's so important to stop and be thankful - not just for the big things - but all the small things that accumulate every day.

    Here's the latest one if you want to check it out.

    http://writeupmylife.com/2010/07/18/gratitude-sunday-17/

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  42. Julie, I love your Gratitude Sunday idea! What a great reminder to remember our blessings. Thanks.

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  43. That turkey picture really caught me off guard! Yikes!

    I keep a list of "gifts" - basically a thankful journal, too. It's so encouraging to go back and read it and remind myself of all my blessings. I have lots of repeats, too. I haven't listed the blogging community yet but thankful for reminding me they should get added to the "list" too!

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  44. Margo, yes, that turkey picture is a hoot. Listing things as gifts is a great idea! I like that approach.

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