Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday of the year. I am amazed that it continues to escape the crazy commercialization machine (Black Friday ridiculousness not-withstanding) and is truly a day to gather with loved ones and count our blessings.
And there are so many blessings!
Here’s my top five list of what I’m grateful for this year:
1) My precious family. How I came to be so blessed to have such a supportive, loving, and all-around awesome husband (who makes a mean raw ice cream) is anyone’s guess. And our daughter, Sia, brings me no end of joy and laughter. These two make everything worthwhile.
2) Perspective. I recently saw the powerful and disturbing film 12 Years a Slave and was brutally reminded of the plight of what many did and continue to suffer, be it slavery or other unimaginable human plights. Leaving the theatre, a crying headache setting in from the many tears I shed, I was so present to the gifts in my life, and I am grateful for this renewed perspective.
3) Community. Relationships are among my most treasured values. In this very global world it can sometimes feel disconnecting to have loved ones scattered all over the globe. I feel so lucky to be part of strong and thriving communities, some local and some virtual. Be it communities of parents looking to raise their kids a little more consciously, or fellow nutritionists sharing their important word and support, or friends and neighbors gathering around a table for dinner and to share stories. We are a part of many wonderful and diverse communities and I am so grateful for every one of them.
4) A renewed commitment to self-care. Sometimes I feel like a broken record on this self-care theme, but clearly it’s one of my most important lessons in this life journey. I continue to explore the benefits of taking exceptional care of myself, and am seeing rewards (often counter-intuitively) in my closest relationships, my business and my health.
5) Quiet time to be present and observe. In this noisy world, a little peace and quiet can be so refreshing. The busier and more hectic our life gets, the more I value the downtime. I’ve taken to sharing meals with our daughter, Sia, in silence. I just love the sound of her chewing and smacking her 16-month lips, and her soft murmurings as she explores the world of food, little details I would miss if there was music or other background noise.
Such a beautiful reflection on gratitude. Thank you for sharing it 🙂 What am I most grateful for this year? Rich relationships with friends and family, a new love in my life, leaps of faith, perspective, new opportunities, nature….and all the little things. Happy Thanksgiving, Margaret. Very high on that list of gratitude is you, James, and Sia.