I want to share a few thoughts about being thankful that I am learning. Over the weekend my husband and I have been staying in a place in Texas that offered a little vacation time for us to get away. When we set up the place to stay we thought it was in a perfect location between two of my favorite cities in Texas–Austin and San Antonio. Little did we know that the weather would not permit us to do much since it has been cold and rainy much of the time. This has forced me to look inside and deal with some hard areas since I am not being distracted by the physical world.

I am learning to be thankful no matter what my circumstances are and am forced to look at the good that is in these situations. I believe anything we experience has some growth for us to experience and it’s not wasted. Both my husband and I have approached some tough areas we weren’t facing in our relationship as well as seeing new areas in the relationship with ourselves. One of the specifics I have been learning is how much I need to be in control. I have to give up my will many times in order to surrender to someone I love.

So I am experiencing that when I have a grateful heart much of what I was complaining about dissipates. Suddenly I am experiencing more joy in my heart and the negative thought patterns get weaker and weaker. Now I know that this time of solitude is a valuable time for me!

How many of you take time to get away so you can listen more to yourself? Whether it is right in your own home or going to a cabin in the woods to get away, find some time to experience being alone with yourself. You might find it is a way to see parts of yourself that you weren’t willing to see when you are caught up in the physical world.

I trust that Thanksgiving can rein in your heart all year round and not just on a special day of the year! I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving this year.

Suzanne