I am the first to admit that having Thanksgiving dinner on Halloween is, well, weird. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so now I get to celebrate it twice. It is always wonderful to have family from out-of-town to gather in thanks over quality time and good food, even though I’m now a vegetarian and gluten-free. As we sat in thanks around our turkey spread (and my slab of salmon), I realized that thanksgiving can be an everyday attitude we can master.
Happy Thank-o-ween!
I don’t normally spend enough time with family, and that I regret. It’s funny how just being around family can remind you of the simple, fundamental things about life and love that we tend to forget in the midst of our busy lives. After handing out candy to cheerful, thankful kids last night, I too am grateful for my childhood. No matter how old you get as an adult, you always go back to being a child when around your parents again. Since I re-experienced that childhood feeling this weekend, it made me think a lot about what I learned as a child and how those lessons have carried me into adulthood. Below are just a few things my mother never “taught” me, but rather showed me, and they are things that I will never forget:
My beautiful mother, 1982; she doesn't know how beautiful she is.
1. You are more beautiful than you realize.
2. You will change yourself as you explore new activities. Don’t be afraid to try something new, no matter how old you are.
3. You should never apologize for eating chocolate.
4. If you are going to do something, do it whole-heartedly.
5. You should never question spending money on something that makes you happy.
6. Loving others involves sacrifice.
7. A smile goes a long way, but for those occasions when you get taken advantage of by companies, it’s time for a phone call. Stay on the phone until you get something for free.
8. Family is whoever you choose it to be: relatives, friends, neighbors, dogs. If you treat everyone as family you can’t go wrong.
9. If you want to celebrate a holiday twice, do it.
10. A trip to the beach can fix any broken-heart or frumpy day; there is healing power in water.