Something to be Grateful For

November is the month of Thanksgiving, and I for one, think we should be grateful more than one day a year, but each and every day.

I used to fill pages and pages of a gratitude journal. Now there isn't a night that I go to sleep before enumerating at least five things a day I'm thankful for.

Sometimes -- on those very bad days -- it can be a stretch.

But once I shake off the "bad," I realize that in every day -- even the most trying -- there is something for which I am grateful. (More often than not, it's the orange furball sharing bed space with me!)

So, in every post this month, I'm acknowledging one thing for which I am thankful -- even if there's nothing else in the post!

Today -- as you can see by the photos here -- I am thinking I am grateful for my friends Linda and Larry, with whom were supposed to be spending this weekend.

Earlier this year, I mentioned Lin was one of my "notables" -- people who have been a powerful influence in my life. If you didn't follow the Marmelade Gypsy back then, you can read about Lin in this post.

Unfortunately, I got some bug (not the flu), enough of one that Dr. Lin suggested I would be better off home in bed (and I really felt that, too, not wanting to spread crud across state lines.)

So, why am I grateful? Well, after determining on Thursday night that traveling was a bad idea, Lin -- dear Lin -- called me the next day and we talked for a good hour. And I have to say she really listened to my frustrations about being sick all the time, my disappointment in not coming to visit, and my fears and concerns with having chronic lung issues. Listened, shared, allowed me to pick her wise doctor brain (or offered without my having to pick) and opened her warm compassionate heart.

And when we were finished with the conversation, I thought, "I am so grateful -- once again -- that this woman is part of my life and has been for more than 40 years."

Who are you grateful for today?

ALSO: Now on Chopsticks and String, "Burned Out: Part Three, Keeping Fresh." Here's a peek -- after you comment here, c'mon over and continue the discussion! And get a few shout-outs to bloggers whose work is fresh, inspirational and/or diverse!

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When does style get in the way of growth? Or does it? Or does it really not matter? And how do you bring in creativity to your own style? How do you keep it fresh?

In the past two posts we've talked about style -- and repetition of style. I call it redundancy when I'm being critical, but it's also what we "do." more