Ten Things I'm Thankful For Right Now
My Dad and Anna at the new beach house. November 2012. The first of what I assume to be many photos taken in this very spot.
ONE | My parents. Most of you guys know that I really appreciate and love my parents. They are a huge part of my life and I'm thankful for them all the time. Right now I feel especially thankful for them and am excited to get to spend Thanksgiving with them this weekend and help them move into their new house at the beach. They have helped me so many times in my life - it feels good to be able to actively help them as they begin the next phase of their own life stories in a new house.
TWO | Chris. Yep, that Chris. It's been over a year since the end of our marriage and we continue to work to make this new relationship work. It's not easy but we are both choosing to make it work in a new way. It's an everyday choice and a different sort of commitment. I'm thankful for the effort he continues to show.
THREE | Music. It's still playing loud and I'm feeling it so intensely. Mumford & Sons. Dave Matthews. Ray LaMontagne. Just a little bit of Christmas music so far. Live music is on my list to make happen in 2013.
FOUR | Learning stuff all the time. Bring it on.
FIVE | Simon & Anna. Could I do a thankful post and not include them? Right now I'm feeling thankful that they are just such fun kids. I love watching them communicate with one another - they are amazingly good for each other. He teaches her and she teaches him. There hasn't been a lot of arguing between them lately so I'm thankful for a smooth patch.
SIX | Witnessing bravery. In the last week alone I've been privileged to witness two friends demonstrate big time courage in their lives. Taking chances, moving forward, stepping outside their comfort zone, making things happen. Blowing me away in awesome ways. I wish that for all of us - to see it and to live it.
SEVEN | Friends. They know who they are. Old and new. Lifting up, laughing, crying, watching all day Twilight marathons, commiserating, celebrating, calling up, planning, inviting, conversing, showing up. The greatest gift I've received this past year is the recognition of how very important friends are in enriching my daily life. I have no idea why it took me 37 years to get that straight in my head.
EIGHT | The small size I chose for December Daily this year. I decided (because I'm living the length and the width and it's something on my life list) that I'm going to take a crazy little trip in early December and do a bit of my December Daily on the road. I'll be sharing daily just like I always do.
NINE | Making it through. The last two weeks I've been super conscious of the cycles of life and of people's ability to make it through stuff. It happens everyday, all around us - people are making it through. Marveling at the human experience of loss and growth and vulnerability and authenticity and faith and love.
TEN | Poetry. Came across this one twice this past week. Must have needed to read it again:
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.
Beautiful reflections Ali. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your entire family.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Beautiful. I especially love that you included your ex-husband on this list. The relationship the two of you still have (and always will have because of your children) will be such a gift to your children. Not many people can say that.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
So thankful for you Ali.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Happy Thanksgiving my dear friend. xo
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I too am thankful for you and your inspirational commitment to living and recording the steps along the way of our lives.
x
Sign in or sign up to comment.
This is so beautiful Ali! I absolutely love it!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I am thankful for internet FRIENDS! I consider you my friend. I am inspired by you daily. Just know you matter so much to all of us!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
thank you for this beautiful post. You know, it takes some people (nameless lol) much longer than 37 years!!!
thanks for all the inspiration you give!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I hope you, your parents and children have the Happiest Thanksgiving.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Gulp hard .......... that poem was amazing. Thank you for sharing. As always you are a reflection of bravery and inspire that in others through your heartfelt blog. Sometimes you are the candle giving light, sometimes the mirror reflecting the light. Wishing you and and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Thanks for sharing this with us Ali, and have a very blessed,happy Thanksgiving!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Thank you for this poem. It spoke to me. I had an intense love of poetry in high school and it seems to have fallen by the wayside. Thank you for the reminder that this most expressive form of life is out there...
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Received my December daily kit yesterday and am excited about this years memories too. lovely post
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, you rock. :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
It's amazing that I probably am the age of your own mother , yet ever since I met you I always say " when I grow up , I want to be just like you " you are amazing ! Thanks for all your words of inspiration ! Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your beautiful family ! Xxx
Your words so exemplify my thoughts about Ali, her children,her parents. I am the mother of three grown daughters, divorced and come to Ali's blog so often for friendship, inspiration and comfort. She is gracious and generous in her sharing.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Happy Thanksgiving Ali...I'm so thankful for the inspiration you give!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Your honesty is so refreshing, I love your blog!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
LOVE this. Thank you.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
LOVE READING YOUR LIST AND SOOOO HAPPY TO SEE CHRIS ON IT. HOW EXCITING FOR YOUR PARENTS, GREAT VIEW!! I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU ALI, IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH YOU HAVE CHANGED THE WAY I SEE THE WORLD AND MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T MET. THANKS FOR ALL THE INSPIRATION AND UPLIFITING SPIRIT YOU HAVE ON YOUR BLOG. BIG HUGS AND BLESSINGS FOR YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES THIS THANKSGIVING!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
love this post...
love that poem!
tfs & happy turkey day!
be grateful...
gobble~gobble!
xoxo...
~p
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours.
No one else in the industry has a had a larger impact on my memory keeping then you.
I am thankful to have you as my inspiration and you have helped to think outside the box. For this I am truely grateful.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I was struggling with whether to take creative writing or poetry for my next course and this came as a revelation, and poetry became the answer. Thank you! A river doesn't know how many villages it feeds along the way. =) Thank you for Ireland!I hope I will be less in awe the next time.Thank you! For sharing your life so others may learn and grow and celebrate and draw strength. Happy Thanksgiving. may all your good come back to you!
hugs
sheila
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Thank you for continuing to teach me how to live.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Thank you! For this post, for showing courage, and for inspire yourself to inspire us. Even though my life seems to be calm right now, I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone, so these kind of words give me light and courage... Happy Thanksgiving Ali to you and all your family!
Sign in or sign up to comment.