In What Remains

This year as I was putting the finishing touches on the 2024 Holiday Recipe Book in the form of tablespoons of this and that, I started writing the intro.  As I looked for an image of a dinner table to place at the bottom, it had me thinking about all the memories created over the years with my family and friends that had a seat around our dinner tables—not necessarily the prettiest table with a few dings, scratches from overuse, and a permanent marker stain of one too many art projects, but with smiling faces seated nonetheless. 

With utensils in hand, we eagerly awaited a labor of love in the form of preparing food to celebrate the holidays.  The dishes each of us made, some from classic family traditions passed down from many years or new dishes we introduced with a special spin.  Some family that is with us and some family that remains with us in spirit. 

This made me reflect on gratitude and how it requires more than a single day to express this form of Thanksgiving, but something that deserves attention and appreciation each and every day of our lives.  The moments we cherish that make us giggle or remind us of the special people in our lives, our quirks and nuances that make us who we are.

One of the things I learned about gratitude is that it is an appreciation for what already exists around us if we only take the time to pause and listen, to not live on auto-pilot. An appreciation of life unconditionally.  It’s always there, but sometimes it takes a closer look to find it, especially on the days that hit us harder than others.

This became ever so clear to me when I was bedridden and had to quit my day job while I fought to regain my health.  It’s easy to get caught up in all that we lose, and difficult for us to remember what remains in the dark times.  For me, gratitude helped me realize all the things I took for granted that deserve a special kind of appreciation that sometimes gets overlooked.  The ability to see, hear, walk, talk, smile, write, dance, a sunrise and sunset, the ocean water that tickles the sandy shore, and the sweet melody of listening to a favorite song on a long car ride off to visit relatives for a holiday family feast.

What I realized is if it wasn’t for all the plot twists and turns our lives throw at us, I don’t know if I would take as much time to pause and watch the rain fall or the snow that collects like powdered sugar on the bushes in my yard, or enjoy a deep long breath in the morning to start a beautiful day. 

As I explored my path to healing my body, I started gratitude journaling and I am happy to share that I will be releasing a Writing Project called Gratitude Journaling-Finding Appreciation Inside of Every Day in 2025 that can help you discover what gratitude means in your life, how to observe, practice daily, and create your own special mantra to cherish each day a little bit more.

So, the next time life throws a few curveballs your way, remember what remains amidst the chaos and you will find what remains-peace.  Stand firm and allow these trials and tribulations help you grow and learn.  Gratitude helps us anchor our lives and the beauty is that it’s always there for you waiting to be embraced with each new day.   

Today, I invite you to celebrate your life, the legacy you are leaving at this moment, behind a dinner table with or without dings and scratches, a few permanent marker stains or not, gratitude is always with you. 

No matter where you are in the world, today is a day to celebrate the gratitude we have for each other, our lives, and love unconditionally.  Whether you are grabbing a slice of apple or pumpkin pie, take a moment to look at it as a whole-all that completes you around that table. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you.  Cheering for you each day.