Greetings!


"Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life."
— Rumi


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Those of you who follow me already know that November is my favorite month; so much of that goes back to my childhood.

I grew up in the suburbs of New York City, and Thanksgiving was the annual holiday my parents loved to celebrate the most. My family made a big deal out of it, including a four-course meal with all the traditional fare, with small chocolate turkeys placed in front of everyone's plate during the meal. I've continued this tradition with my own children, and now with my grandchildren. Although, I've come to realize that kids have less self-control than I remember, so there's always the discussion of why I need those turkeys to decorate the table and "tempt the kids." This year, I might consider a healthier alternative!

While Thanksgiving has colonial harvest roots, for me it was always a time when we highlighted the concept of gratitude. Once my children were old enough, at the end of each meal I planned a game to be played or question to be answered that centered around the idea of thankfulness.

I recall one year in particular when I had everyone take a turn sitting at the head of the table. While there, we'd go around the table and each person would remark why they were grateful for the individual seated at the head of the table. As young adults, my three children were not too thrilled with that exercise. Now that they're parents themselves, I'm hoping they will appreciate it more. In any event, this year I might consider some sort of modification, but one thing remains consistent each Thanksgiving—I always hire a professional photographer for group photos, to capture the wonderful memories we make.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about gratitude. I wonder about the gifts each one of us holds inside of us. Some of us are born with gifts, while others nurture and develop certain gifts as they move through the different life stages.

The fact is that we all have gifts. When is the last time you thought about yours? Here are some questions to ponder by yourself or maybe even consider sharing each person's gift at your own Thanksgiving feast.

  • What are your gifts?
  • How have you used your gifts to contribute to the world?
  • How do you show or share your gifts of gratitude?


Happy Writing!
dianaraab.com


  • Who are you thankful for?
  • What are you thankful for?
  • Write about what Thanksgiving means for you.
  • Write a poem starting with, "I'm grateful for..."

November 9, 2023
6:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m.
Community Environmental Council's Environmental Hub
1219 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA

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December 2, 2023
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Santa Barbara Public Library Author Book Fair
40 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA

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December 5, 2023
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Writing Workshop
“Let’s Write: Creating Harmony During the Holidays”
Santa Barbara Public Library Downtown
Faulkner Side Gallery East
Santa Barbara, CA
To register: Click here

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January 25, 2024
Seattle Study Club
National Symposium
"Journaling for Healing and Transformation"
Private Event
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort

"My Healing Journey from Survivor to Thriver." (article) Sixty and Me. October 7, 2023.

My Healing Journey from Survivor to Thriver. (article) Medium. October 11, 2023.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cancer. (article) Psychology Today. October 12, 2023.

"Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cancer." (article) Medium. October 16, 2023.

"Creating Peace Through Life's Storms." (article) Psychology Today. October 17, 2023.

"Creating Peace Through Life's Storms." (article) Medium. October 18, 2023.

"My Healing Journey from Survivor to Thriver." (article) The Good Men Project. October 19, 2023.

The Death of Poet Louise Gluck." (article) Medium. October 25, 2023.

"Adverse Childhood Experiences and Cancer." (article) The Good Men Project. October 26, 2023.

"The Passing of Poet Louise Gluck." (article). The Wisdom Daily. October 27, 2023.
Wake Up Grateful by Kristi Nelson (memoir/self-help)

Every month is a good month to read and practice gratitude, but given the celebration of Thanksgiving, November in particular is a great time to focus on being grateful. This book is a beautifully written guide for those of us who need a refresher course on gratitude. It's packed with guiding principles, exercises, and meditations to inspire us to make gratitude a welcomed part of our daily practice.

Author Nelson uses her own cancer experience as a benckmark for her practice, but any trauma or transformative experience can serve as a touchstone or inspiration for the daily practice of gratitude.

I found this book especially useful during these challenging times, when there seems to be so much uncertainty, grieving, and sadness in the world. In addition to practicing The Serenity Prayer, this book is great to have on your bedside table with your journal, to inspire your daily practice.
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