This morning, laying in bed after the alarm went off for the 3rd time (my ritual–3rd time’s charm), I reached out to pat each of my 3 dogs that share the bed with HK and me. Yes, that’s right, all 3 sleep with us.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Anyway, today all of us- HK, Kismet, Roxie and Chance, head to Western Ky. to visit his family for the Thanksgiving holiday. Wow! I can’t believe it’s already the holiday season.

Propped on my pillow, a pup under each hand and Chance, the baby, curled on my chest, I reflected on those things that give me happiness, all that I have to be thankful for.

First of all, I am happy to be above ground, alive and healthy. As each year comes to an end, more of the people I care about face illness, unemployment, depression, divorce or worse. This has been a good year for me, a very good year, and for that, I am thankful.

I also reflected on my continued reunions-via facebook, telephone, emails or best of all, face to face, with people from my past. Here I will spare you the sermon, if you choose to read about my facebook experiences, go to my fb category and just keep scrolling down–plenty of fodder there.

This year I have tried new things, some outside of my comfort zone. I started going to bootcamp, written (still editing) a children’s book, taken chances and gotten out of my own way. For those things, too, I am thankful.

It’s not until you express your thanks for what you have that you can welcome more abundance. The “attitude of gratitude” shows us that when you say things like “I am happy that I have the time to do things that are important to me,”  instead of  “god, I am sooooo bored,”  your life outlook will be brighter and in turn, you will manifest more positive energy.

It becomes easy, if you dwell on negativism, to manifest negative energy around yourself, and it projects itself onto those around you. Even if you are facing hard times, find something, one thing, to be grateful for and say thanks. Go ahead. Try it.  I promise you’ll feel better.

Some people keep a gratitude journal, where they note all of the things that they are grateful for. Others have an object (rock, token, etc) that they meditate their thanks with. Personally, I say my thanks aloud (although sometimes very quietly-under my breath), and at that moment, I am aware of the positive energy, the qi, in my spirit.

What are you thankful for this year?  How do you show thanks?  I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, and may you give thanks every day!