’Tis the Season, or So We’re Told, to Be Thankful

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With Thanksgiving around the corner here in the U.S., I couldn’t help making a list of things for which I’m thankful. At first, I resisted the idea, thinking that list making at Thanksgiving seemed a little too been-there-done-that. After all, do I really need a holiday to tell me to be thankful? If I’m not thankful throughout the year, how fake is it that I’m suddenly thankful on Thursday? (Well, I’m thankful for turkey!)

But since I’ve got the time, and you’ve come here anyway, here it is. I’m thankful for . . .

* Frost-rimed leaves representing the full spectrum of the seasons . . .

  

* Family and friends far and near who are as dear as family (Actual friends and family are not depicted in this photo. No one I know has a worm coming out of his or her head.)

* Friends who make cards for me . . .

* Blogger friends like FictionFan, who offer to send me free Audible books . . .

* This hand cream. Cold weather is hard on the hands, so . . .

* And chocolate of course. Oh and ice cream.

“Wait a minute!” you interrupt. “Are you really taking this thankful thing seriously? I mean, come on. Hand cream? Dead leaves? Chocolate? Ice cream?”

Well, I am thankful for those. And if I really want to go beyond just surface-level stuff, I’m really thankful to God and to incredibly generous friends who helped me through a difficult season. I haven’t mentioned even half of the things that have happened to me this year—good or bad. Some things I keep to myself.

But I am grateful. And that’s why I’m sponsoring another giveaway on this blog. Just because. No, I’m not crazy. And yes, I know this isn’t Christmas—the gift-giving season. But one way I show thankfulness is to give. Really, I only included the above list to lead up to this point. Comment below to be entered in the drawing to receive a $30 Amazon gift card (or its equivalent in Amazon UK). What are you thankful for, even if Thanksgiving Day is not something you celebrate? If you celebrate Thanksgiving, what are you looking forward to eating on the day?

Once again, the random number generator will decide the winner. I’ll post the name on November 27! Just in time for more holiday shopping (or to buy yourself something you love)!

Now, that’s something to be thankful for.

Turkey from wallyball.homestead.com. Lalaloopsy dolls by Mattel. Photos by L. Marie.

39 thoughts on “’Tis the Season, or So We’re Told, to Be Thankful”

  1. Sending you best wishes without knowing about your difficult season. I am thankful for discovering your blog, and your overseas-over the net friendship. Don’t enter me into your draw-I’ve won a few things from you before and think other’s should have a chance. I’m thankful for this too 🙂

  2. Praying for you, my friend! I know you’re pressing on and tackling your last challenge. I’m thankful for my good health, my family, wonderful friends like you and for a roof over my head. Wishing you and your family a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

  3. I’m always struggling to think of something to be thankful for that doesn’t sound lame. My mind typically goes to pizza, various TV shows, or material things. I think my brain considers friends and family a given. Doesn’t help that we aren’t doing much because everyone else in the family are going off to other locations. So, it’s a small and simple dinner for us.

    Happy Thanksgiving.

  4. I’m thankful that I can get out of bed and S~T~R~E~T~CH each morning without assistance.
    I’m thankful that I can walk by myself to turn on my tea machine.
    I’m thankful to have running water in the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth and floss (and flush). 😀
    I’m thankful to have a wonderful BFF who makes my life better every day.

    And I’m thankful for my friends and cyber friends sprinkled around the globe.

    Happy Gobble Gobble Day, L.M.

    • And I’m thankful for you, Nancy! I hear you on being thankful for being able to get out of bed and stretch! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  7. Hi L. Marie. I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a tough year. I’m not far from you, and I’m always happy to help a friend if you need anything. Which leads me to what I’m grateful for. Despite this dreary whether today, I can’t even express the overwhelming gratitude I have to be back here in the burbs near my family and long time friends. I was away for soooo long, and I missed out for too many years. Grateful is an understatement.

    Hope things are getting better for you. ❤

    • Lori, I’m glad you’re back here! Glad you’re near family. And yes, the weather is dreary. Sigh. But I’m glad Thanksgiving is nigh! 😀 😃 😄

      Thank you for your hope of better times.

  8. Thank you for this piece and sending best wishes to you. I hope we see each other again soon! I’m thankful for the time we were able to spend together in Chicago this past summer. And my family doesn’t like turkey, so my husband and I are making paella this year, as we did last year.

  9. I love this post. I am also thankful for hand cream! I’m thankful that I enjoy my students so much this year and that I’m finding more time to write. I’m thankful for pumpkin pies and the fact that my sister is visiting this week. Happy Thanksgiving!

  10. Aw, thank you for the lovely mention! I’m honoured – or even honored! 😀

    Well, I’m thankful for chocolate and cake, of course. But really I’m thankful that I live in a time and place where even ordinary working class people have access to books, art, theatre, TV, movies and so on – things that we take for granted but that didn’t used to be possible for the poor, and still aren’t in some countries. And I’m thankful to live in an age where we can communicate at the click of a key across borders and boundaries, be friends with people of all ages, genders, backgrounds, nationalities. Have a great Thanksgiving, and eat an extra slice of pie for me! 😀

    • I’m honoured that you’re honored. 😀 😃 😄 Ah, our spelling differences make me smile. The world is indeed large.

      I’m thankful for what you mentioned as well, though I wish social media were not used as a weapon as much as it is these days. But I’m grateful that blogging enabled me to meet you!

  11. Gratitude is an attitude I like to practice as much as possible in everything I do. But I do like the special day for giving thanks. I like my family’s practice of going around the table to give a personal thanks before we dig into our turkey. So here’s my Thanksgiving shortlist: my three daughters, our phone calls and visits and love, my faithful sons-in-law, my grandchildren, and my sister. I’m thankful to the people who made me who I am: my late husband, my parents and grandparents. And I’m thankful for my friends and neighbors. This could go on too long, so I’ll just say that every day I’m thankful for all the little things: cinnamon and honey, colors and sounds, space and warmth, sun and rain. And yes, I’m thankful that pulling out a tooth a couple of months ago cured my asthma.

    • What a lovely list, Nicki. So many wonderful people in your life.
      I’m thankful for many of the items on your list. 😀 😃 😄 So glad that tooth pulling happened!
      I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

  12. Pingback: ’Tis the Season to Go Shopping? | El Space–The Blog of L. Marie

  13. I’ve been working on thankfulness too this November. Amazing how it gives me a different perspective on every day. I printed out a blank calendar and fill it in every day with gel pens, of course. 🙂 Grateful for you and your wonderful writing.

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