Happy ThanksSharing

It’s Thanksgiving again, time for family and friends to come together to celebrate over a feast fit for “kings” and “queens”. It is a time when the calendar reminds, and encourages, us to be grateful.

But grateful for who, or about what?

Regardless, being grateful for anything or anyone is always a good thing.

Fortunately, there is always something or someone to be grateful for, or about, all year long. We all have our What and our special Who.

Unfortunately, and for too many, there is the stress that comes with keeping up with the pace of modern living. There is the barrage of daily distractions, the hurry up and running late, pressing obligations, and one deadline after another.

Talk about La Vida Loca.

Not surprisingly, it is all more exhausting than we would like it to be.

Sadly, it is the times we live in, and when it seems, we are always trying to catch our breath. Small wonder why remembering to be grateful is, too often, an afterthought.

 Yet, we all know it does not have to be this way. It does not have to be a "lifestyle".

But here we are, and it is up to you, right?

So, what to do. I suggest you "be" more mindful and aware about how you are "being" and consciously living.

Calendar aside, we are always, at least subconsciously, experiencing the ultimate reason to be grateful.

Yes, Life itself. Now, “be” mindful and grateful about it.

Let us use this Thanksgiving, and the coming holidays, to slow down just a bit. Let us use this pace to tune our sense of presence and gratitude. Let us just take a deep breath and share and enjoy life with our family and friends.

I know it is up to me to be mindful about being grateful throughout my daily life. It is up to me to slow down and take a moment to “be” grateful for those I love, for the abundance of things that are simple, meaningful and priceless: a brand-new sunrise, morning dew on a blooming flower, a cool breeze, an old fashion chat over a cup of coffee or tea, and so much else.

It is to take a moment, from time to time, to slow down to a stop, to take a deep breath and drop into your Self, and to just let your senses simply notice the world around you.

You will find that as simple an exercise this is, how much of a big difference it will make in your daily life; in your moment-to-moment living experience.

Try it, you will be grateful for what you did.

Imagine if more of us made “being” mindful to “be” so grateful. Imagine sharing that sense of gratitude with everyone, starting with those at the table this Thanksgiving.

 “Living life to the fullest has more to do with having a present and intimate awareness and appreciation of your own “being” than with doing anything. After all, you must first “be” before you can “do”.

Traditions are what they are. But this year, we can try something different.

 “Gratitude says: When we live with the daily expectation that something good is going to happen, and nothing bad happened that day, it was a good day. If something good happened, it would have been a great day. The reality is that most of our days are good days”.

Let gratitude set the mood as you travel to the occasion, arriving there, greeting everyone and chit chatting as you settle in.

Now, every year we hear about it. So, let's get it out of the way. Try, really try as best you can, to avoid conversations that could be divisive or disruptive. They could ruin an experience that is supposed to be one of togetherness, love, sharing and gratitude.

There is so much else to talk about. You know what those things are. Talk about them.

You have come together to celebtare. It is the reason for the occasion . Just enjoy each other and have fun. We can still do that, right?

Something else; if it is not necessary, disconnect from your tech devices.

It's ok, don't freak out. Chances are very good you will not miss anything more important than the reason you have come together.

Cyberspace is an artificial realm. Real space, is real. It is the realm of the living and where Thanksgiving is celebrated with real people. "Be" there, "be" present.

The truth is, that expressions of gratitude bring us closer together. They remind us how special we are to each other, and how we need each other.

Share your sense of presence and gratitude.It could only make everyone feel good, so good it may even make dinner taste so much better. 

Imagine being in a good mood, enjoying good food with good people, and having a good time.

What a fun life! What a beautiful life!

The reality is that reasons for ThanksSharing happen all the time. We don’t need the calendar to remind us. We need only to be more mindful that being alive and having each other,is reason enough.

This Thanksgiving let ThanksSharing be the whip cream on your favorite pie.

When you think about it all, life is a constant stream of new beginnings. So, let ThanksSharing be a daily expression of the ever evolving life you are always experiencing with those around you; those you love, those who love you.

As you live along, I leave you with this quote. Reflect on it for a moment:

“Now, is that constant instant between the past and the future. It is the only time we live, and the only time we can do something, about almost anything”.

It’s Now O’ Clock. Time to be grateful. Time to taste life, one sip at a time. CHEERS!