I posted this one on 10/28/2010 realizing people need to know that what they do and who they are matters.  Let's spread the gratitude this season by creating a new grassroots, really meaningful tradition!!  Pass it on!!
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With Halloween almost here and Thanksgiving right around the corner, I have felt myself shift focus toward the next holiday a lot sooner than usual.  I really want to make Thanksgiving extra special this year.  I had an idea a couple of years ago on just how to do that but I haven't gotten around to it yet.  I think this year is the year!

Several months ago I reconnected with someone from high school.  We had lost touch in college and I had always wondered how she was doing.  Last I had seen her was when my father was battling Leukemia; during the last half of my high school years.  While it was very tough on me, I found that many of my friends didn't know what to say.  In hindsight, I can understand that they just didn't know how to handle it and, frankly, how many teenagers would.  This one friend though, always knew when all I needed was a hug.  After reconnecting with her a few months ago, I was so happy to be able to tell her just how much her friendship had meant to me all those years ago.

After seeing how much she appreciated hearing that, I realized the idea I had a couple of years ago was something I needed to do.  People really need to hear meaningful words of encouragement more often.  They need to know that who they are makes a positive difference in someone's life.

Starting in the next couple of weeks I am going to start writing what I am calling my Thanksgiving Letters.  I am going to sit down and make a list of all of the people that have made a positive impact on my life in some way and take the time to write them a note to tell them that.  I plan on making this a yearly tradition and, hopefully, my sharing it here will encourage other people to do it too.

For this week's blog post, I wanted to share something that is in the true spirit of the season.  After doing some holiday shopping recently, I heard shop owners and employees time and time again saying how business was booming.  With that in mind, my intent was to to write a blog about giving back in some way.  Then I remembered that the video my husband's band put together last year could very easily express the sentiment much more effectively than I could.  Instead of giving you a list of suggestions, I would ask you to watch the video and do what you feel compelled to do.

Have a wonderful holiday!

With Halloween almost here and Thanksgiving right around the corner, I have felt myself shift focus toward the next holiday a lot sooner than usual.  I really want to make Thanksgiving extra special this year.  I had an idea a couple of years ago on just how to do that but I haven't gotten around to it yet.  I think this year is the year!

Several months ago I reconnected with someone from high school.  We had lost touch in college and I had always wondered how she was doing.  Last I had seen her was when my father was battling Leukemia; during the last half of my high school years.  While it was very tough on me, I found that many of my friends didn't know what to say.  In hindsight, I can understand that they just didn't know how to handle it and, frankly, how many teenagers would.  This one friend though, always knew when all I needed was a hug.  After reconnecting with her a few months ago, I was so happy to be able to tell her just how much her friendship had meant to me all those years ago.

After seeing how much she appreciated hearing that, I realized the idea I had a couple of years ago was something I needed to do.  People really need to hear meaningful words of encouragement more often.  They need to know that who they are makes a positive difference in someone's life.

Starting in the next couple of weeks I am going to start writing what I am calling my Thanksgiving Letters.  I am going to sit down and make a list of all of the people that have made a positive impact on my life in some way and take the time to write them a note to tell them that.  I plan on making this a yearly tradition and, hopefully, my sharing it here will encourage other people to do it too.