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Thankful Reflection and Learning

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In the US we will celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. Already, things are slowing down a bit as people travel to spend time with their families or hunker down to get everything done in this three day work week. I like this time of year. It is a quiet time for reflecting and giving thanks before the holiday retail frenzy grabs hold and unleashes a flurry of stressful buying and gift giving.

It is a perfect time to reflect, learn and begin to implement new habits and actions.  Writing has been an integral part of my own reflection.  It has been eye opening to explore the process of writing and learning over at Joyful Jubilant Learning this month. I encourage you to check out the posts there and consider joining in on the Group Writing Project . One of my favorite posts there this month was Opening a Vein by Káren Wallace. Filled with raw emotion, the piece was haunting, poetic and so aptly described many of my own feelings about writing.

My own journal has chronicled my fears, frustrations and fantasies about the months ahead. As I pour it all out upon the pages, I am able to clearly see paths and patterns. The task of writing it all down frequently leaves me spent but satisfied. There is a sense of space and calm as I let the thoughts tumble from my head to the page.

I must admit that not everything is clear but I have learned to be okay with that too.  I am embracing carving out a road that is straight and squiggly and veers off in unexpected directions. I believe that is one of the reasons why Joanna Young’s revealing post, The Search for the Rosetta Stone or Confessions of a Serial Blogger ,  struck me so deeply.

This week I will be reflecting on these lessons and catching up on my reading. Of course, there will also be pie involved because it is Thanksgiving week.  🙂 I also want to take a moment to say Thank You. Whether you pop in on occasion or show up faithfully, whether you read in silence or offer comments, I am so thankful for YOU! Every single person that subscribes, reads, shares is so valued by me.

So, what’ s in store for you this week? If pie is involved, please share. 🙂

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Comments

  1. Karen, whenever you come you are always right on time. 🙂 I am always delighted when we connect. That’s right it’s summer for you! I am counting on you to share the warmth as we enter the cold of winter. You are so right about the craziness of the year. Here too the children are off school for winter holiday, which adds to that never ending to do list! Thankfully we can pop in on one another and take those small breaks remembering to carve out calm among the frenzy.

  2. Karen, I only just found this – sorry.

    I am overwhelmed with your kind words! Thank you from the bottom of this grateful heart for the way you’ve touched me this morning. I will carry the glow with me today (and longer) – it will make my day so very special.

    It sounds like you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving… it must be such a lovely holiday. To simply eat, be merry and give thanks. Mmm.

    This resounded with me “There is a sense of space and calm as I let the thoughts tumble from my head to the page.” It reminds me again that it is those times when we are so busy, or full of emotion, that we think we haven’t time to let the thoughts out – that is the very time we must! (Big note to self right now in the craziness of December and a house full of kids on summer holidays!)

  4. Eliza, such wisdom in those words. Moving to Michigan has really given me such a different perspective on seasons. In California I did not experience the natural changes that occur with the seasons. Living here, I was surprised at the primal response, the whimsy the summer brings, the reflection of fall, the hunkering down of Winter and the rebirth of Spring, It’s pretty amazing.

  5. Hi J.D.! I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with love and pie. I did indulge in pumpkin, no crust and it was so worth it! 🙂

  6. Meryl, I thought of you on Thanksgiving because year round you exhibit a joyful and grateful heart. I love this time of year too and know that times are tough for many but that makes it extra special to have people you love in your life. Whether you share pea-cahn pie or tofurkey, love and gratitude is what makes it super special. Well, okay the pie really does make it extra special! 🙂

  7. Heather! I adore you and am so thankful for you. I didn’t have chocolate pie but on Saturday I had another bite of my poco dolce chocolate (Ginger) and it was heavenly or as they say in the hood, it was slap your mama good! LOL!

  8. Dearest Lillie, I am a little late but still offer you my blessings for wonderful day and week and thanks for the light you shine in this world. It is a special treat to have one of my favorite authors be someone who is so accessible and gracious to readers. 🙂

  9. Happy post Thanksgiving Wendi! I share your sentiment about gratitude for the wonderful friends. I spent a lot of time on Thanksgiving really giving thanks..and then I had pie, pumpkin no crust. 🙂 Bless you dear Wendi, truly thankful to have you in my life!

  12. Here’s some of my mama’s pea-cahn pie for y’all. I’m thankful for my family and community for their support as we look for a job for my recently laid off hubs.

    I love Thanksgiving. The only thing you really need to do is cook — otherwise, you absorb yourself in the holiday and its spirit. No shopping. No cards. Just be.

    Happy Thanksgiving, Karen and everyone!
    .-= Meryl K Evans´s last blog ..11 Reasons Why People Don’t Follow Back on Twitter =-.

  14. Karen,

    You and your wonderful words (I love this: road that is straight and squiggly and veers off in unexpected directions) are among gifts to be thankful for.

    Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving and much to be thankful for.
    .-= Lillie Ammann´s last blog ..National Bible Week =-.

  15. PIE!! Pumpkin and some kind of chocolate. It isn’t a holiday without something Chocolaty and creamy in the house.

    Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I wish we did a better job of hanging on to that attitude of gratitude all year long, but to at least have one day where everyone seems to stop and smell the blessings in just a gift.

    That and the pie….

    Happy turkey day my blessed friend. Among my gratitudes this year are special friends like you that come forth and make everything much brighter and wonderful.

    Thank you for being you.

  16. Brad!! I missed you my friend! Cyberspace was not the same without you! Welcome back and I hope you have a very blessed Thanksgiving too!

  17. Conor, you always know exactly what to say to make me feel worthy! Huge hugs to you! 🙂 Your friendship across the miles means the world to me, and you have encouraged me on so many occasions. All the Irish people I know seem to abide in a constant state of thanksgiving and celebration, so no national holiday needed. I’ll think of you too though as I give thanks and enjoy pie! 🙂

  18. LOL! Thanks Joanna, sometimes I worry that my squiggles are making people dizzy! 🙂 I have doubled my workouts so I can indulge in a little pie, so I’ll have a bite for you too! I’ll be thinking of you and of course giving thanks. x

  20. Karen,

    Thank you for being a beacon of light 🙂 Your posts have helped guide my thoughts away from the rocks many times.

    Have a great Thanksgiving. We don’t celebrate it officially in Ireland, but I try and live it every day. I’ll try harder this week 🙂

    Conor