Greetings!
Those who know me and who've been reading my work know that Thanksgiving is my very favorite holiday and always has been, ever since I was a little girl. I think one reason has to do with my father, who instilled in me the importance of gratitude, but it was also a holiday that we all celebrated, devoid of materialistic and religious associations.
I've tried to instill my love for Thanksgiving in my kids and grandchildren, so each year I create a festive celebration. We all gather in my kitchen, and everyone works together to make a delicious homemade meal. And, we usually invite someone to join us who doesn't have a family to celebrate with. When my children were younger, we made an annual ritual out of feeding the homeless, and to this day, they continue to talk about it.
On Thanksgiving, we also spend the day counting our blessings. One year we went around the table and had each person state what they thought was wonderful about the person on either side of them. This was very affirming for everyone. "An attitude of gratitude" is our motto. In fact, studies have shown that those who are grateful are, indeed, happier.
I'M FEELING GRATEFUL FOR MY READERS. THANKS FOR BEING HERE!
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Happy Thanksgiving from my table to yours!
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- Write a letter to someone expressing your gratitude.
- What are you most thankful for in your life?
- Write about a talent you have that you're grateful for.
- Write about your favorite Thanksgiving memory.
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Me.
October 11, 2019.
Yours)"
(blog).
Best Self Magazine.
October 17, 2019.
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November 15, 2019
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
Learn at Lunch
Hospice of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
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December 6, 2019
Guest Speaker
Inlandia Institute
Riverside, CA
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December 15, 2019
Noon - 2:00 p.m.
"L
ooking for Bliss? Looking for Gifts?"
Book Signing
Lily of Montecito
Montecito, CA
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This book, which was released in September, is another one of Mark Nepo's gems. As a poet and philosopher, he is such an inspiration to the spirit of self-expression, and he reminds you of this on every page. In discussing his creative process, he says that when he writes, his mission is to reach the River of Light, which he believes informs all of life, and to drink from it so he can be a conduit for positive life force in the world. He reminds us of the importance of self-expression and how without it, the heart and soul cannot breathe, and our spirit cannot grow. While growing more profound in our writing, we are becoming more interconnected as humans.
Read this book for yourself and for other favorite people in your life. You won't regret it!
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Now in his 90s, Austrian-born David Steindl-Rast speaks of gratitude as full-blooded, reality-based, and redeeming. He discusses spiritual gratitude and says that in order to practice gratitude, we need to Stop-Look-Go. In other words, we need to be in the moment, watch for the opportunity in the moment, and avail yourself of that opportunity. Gratitude brings an immediate benefit, which is joy. And joy is the happiness that doesn't depend on what happens. Understandably, we can't be grateful for everything, such as loss, war, or violence, but we can learn to be grateful for all the goodness in our lives.
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I've partnered with DailyOM to offer an exclusive 8-part course:
Write. Heal. Transform:
A Magical Memoir Writing Course
Learn about the power of writing to heal and transform. Be inspired to share the story that only you can tell!
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