Cache Me If You Can!

Somehow, it is Thanksgiving time again. I feel like I have barely had time to digest last year's bird and here we are again, ready to fill our gullets with more delicious food with those we love. Not such a bad gig, I guess.

I try desperately to block out the sensationalized holiday hubbub and maintain my focus on the true importance of what surrounds me but it's difficult when you are being cocooned in garland and left bleeding myrrh upon entering every store. I just came for bagels.

In the whirlwind of preparing to cook Thanksgiving dinner for 13 members of my highly diverse family tree, I decided to tap into my own bag of innards and consult with my heart. The irony is almost too poetic. While there are many aspects of my life that I lead with my heart, there are twice as many occasions when I keep it tightly bound like a bag of giblets, protecting it from harm. It's my precious little secret, hidden from the world of carnivores.

The moral of this story? Don't forget to remove the bag of giblets before you cook your turkey. Or...for you sentimentalists...remember that a heart unused is nothing more than a flavorless stew. ;-) 

Being Thankful is About More Than Just Being a Turkey

Thanksgiving comes around every year and we routinely express our appreciation for some of the positive aspects of our lives. It's a great little reminder to stop griping about every little thing that doesn't go our way.

We typically go through the motions of giving thanks for friends, family, health and the scrumptious food. But, what about the things that get overlooked?

For instance...I'm grateful for palm trees. Yup, palm trees. There isn't a negative thought in the world that can sneak its way into my mind while admiring palm fronds blowing in the wind. Really, it just makes me want a hammock.

How about...green lights? Just the other day, I hit green lights for an entire day in my travels. I slipped on my "S" cape and conquered the world that day.

I'm grateful for...my journey through cancer. (Let me explain, I promise I'm not a masochist!) I learned about immense physical and emotional pain and the experience pushed my thresholds to limits that far exceeded what I ever believed I could handle. I became stronger, smarter and invincible to impossibility.

And the giggles of children...there is no sweeter sound. When my boys get to the stage of absolute pure laughter that they can no longer control, it is infectious and musical. In my eyes, it is one of the seven wonders of the world.

I'm especially grateful this year for an invitation to be a positive role model for an amazing group of young girls at the Hibiscus Children's Center in Vero Beach. The Zen in the Den event allows me to teach these girls about journaling, the importance of processing emotions and to share my own journey with them. There is no greater gift to receive than giving of yourself.

So, before you cut into the turkey this year, take a few extra minutes to consider the blessings that may normally go overlooked. And, if you're a vegetarian, the turkey will join you in the good fortune.