
The month of November can mean something different to each person you meet. Halloween is finally over (I never understood that holiday anyways). Christmas shopping season is now more acceptable than it was in October. Fall colors are disappearing as cold air has arrived and crisp winds have taken place. Messages of thanks are appearing from people that might not have shown thankfulness all year long. Darkness appears earlier in the day and the snowflakes become a more common occurrence in the daily forecast. Most people call Christmas their “favorite time of year” but for me, my favorite “holiday” is November 1st through January 2nd. What can I say, I dare to be different.
This time period is my favorite “holiday” because it encompasses all that is great into 2 short months. The gatherings are endless, the food is delicious (hopefully) and the reasons to be thankful are plentiful. It’s a two month period that is filled with family drama, get away trips to my best friends house, phone calls with friends I’ve been determined to catch up with this year and so much more. It’s the time of year you can truly slow down and enjoy the moments that life provides you. It’s a period of time that ends with the old and welcomes the new. It’s a season of traditions and one that I have enjoyed for 10 years is ringing in the New Year with my two best friends by my side. On December 31st, I typically sit down and think of at least 50 things that have happened to me (both good and bad) throughout the past year.
But this season begins now….with the opportunity to reflect on thankfulness. When was the last time you truly sat down and thought about what you were thankful for? Think beyond the material possessions that you bought at the mall last weekend or the items that fill your closest but instead focus on the feelings of the season, the reason we are here and the mere fact that you’ve got things to be thankful for. Think about it….what if you woke up tomorrow morning with only the things that you were thankful for today? What would you have?
November 1 – the ability to speak freely, knowing that true friends respect you for your opinions and will continue to love you.
November 2 – it’s simple –the love of baseball. Not just my beloved Redbirds, but I’m thankful for the game, the legends, the heroes and the ones who come to the diamond day in and day out because nothing beats a night at the ballpark. Nothing beats the love of the game.
November 3 – the flexibility that each day brings me.
November 4 – time to reminisce about the past and be part of a team that has always included me as one of their own.
November 5 – napping on a Saturday afternoon
November 6 – despite not seeing each other everyday like we used to, the ability to pick up right where we left off with old friends is something that I will always treasure.
November 7 – time with my Dad in the great outdoors.
November 8 – the right to have an opinion, share that opinion and live in a country that is free because of the democracy we have and the selfless acts of so many.
November 9 – the ability to find common ground with people, even if it is over a simple picture on the wall of a happy place that we share – Busch Stadium!
November 10 – for the ability to connect with people and share my story especially to the people who have influenced me since the beginning.
November 11 – all of the true heroes in life; everyone that has served our country and is currently serving our country for the freedom we all enjoy and sometimes take for granted each and everyday.
November 12 – simply having friends who have never left your side, despite distance and time – nothing has changed.
November 13 – laughter.
November 14 – the teachers throughout my life that always made me write. They made me write journal entries, stories, autobiographies and so much more. It didn’t matter what it was, thank you for making me simply….write.
November 15 – honesty from life long friends.
November 16 – anxiety because it means I care, right?
November 17 – sleeping pills for the restless nights.
November 18 – not caring about being alone at the movie theater.
November 19 – comfy pants and cold medicine.
November 20 – an amazing team mate that provides endless encouragement and motivation and always pushes me and challenges me to think differently and continue to improve.
November 21 – SNOW!
November 22 – a family that works together and friends who help out in the time of need.
November 23 – friends who continuously open their door (and their couch) for me with a moments notice.
November 24 – waking up to some of my favorite kiddos wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving. Oh and for turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes!
November 25 – friendships that are truly priceless and the ability to never stop laughing, never stop giving and always having a lending ear and hand when I need it and giving it when it’s needed.
November 26 – leftovers!
November 27 – time with my mom, Christmas shopping!
November 28 – Open, honest dialogue with those that I work with and for farmers who “get it!”
November 29 – a queen sized bed all to myself!
November 30 – simply catching up with friends I haven’t talked to in a long time and looking forward to the next 31 days filled with so many friends and many more memories being made!