I’m really looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with our goddaughters and their parents (our dear friends) next week. As I’ve been packing warm clothes and preparing for our week in the Connecticut snow, I’ve been thinking about what I’m most grateful for.

I like to think of myself as an optimist, but the truth is, I usually see the positives and the negatives of a situation at the same time. A “normal” day usually includes a range of emotions, with ups and downs. Often, my goal is simply to focus on the positive things in my life more often than I focus on the negatives.

As I look forward to Thanksgiving, I’d like to acknowledge five of the things that I’m most grateful for:

 

1. The wonderful people in my life

2. Their love and encouragement

3. A cozy place to live

4. Creative pursuits that I care about

5. Opportunities to learn from my mistakes (those painful-yet-wonderful moments when I see life more clearly)

 

What are you grateful for?