“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.”  -W.J. Cameron

I saw this quote the other day and it stopped me dead in my tracks. Every year we gear up to sit around a feast with our loved ones. We get excited about the food, having days off from work, relaxing, indulging in a food coma, catching up with our loved ones, preparing the meal, the retail sales the day after and everything that comes to mind when we think of Thanksgiving. I think sometimes we get lost in these things and we forget what it’s really about.

Thanks giving. It’s the act of giving thanks. When you actually separate the words, you see it in a different light. It’s not just a name of a holiday any more, but instead it becomes a reminder.

To give more thanks.

To be more grateful.

To express more appreciation.

I know I can do better in my gratitude practice and I’m willing to guess that most people can. It requires us to get honest with ourselves about what we value in life. And the more specific we get about it, the more we can see how much we truly do have to be thankful for.

For example, I could say I’m grateful for my parents. But what if I took it a step further. Why am I grateful for them? Because they always come to my rescue, they make me laugh, they help me to see life as it is happening, they keep it real and honest, they never pass judgment and they always support my decisions with unconditional love.

Can you see the difference? I could have stopped at “I’m grateful for my parents.” When we take it a step beyond that, we uncover the many layers of gratitude that exist, which allow for a greater connection to being thankful.

I encourage you to think deeply about your life and what you have in it that makes your heart happy or maybe even the people or things that you may be overlooking or taking for granted. Spend the day reminding yourself of all the things you cherish, value and know you are lucky to have in your life. Be thankful for your experiences and gratefully savor time spent with those you love.

Life happens very quickly. Your whole world can change in an instant. So, cherish those who are close to you and love with all your heart. Never be afraid to give it all you’ve got either because nothing is guaranteed, including tomorrow. Sometimes we never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.

My hope for everyone, today and everyday, is that we all start to practice more gratitude for the things we DO have in our lives. We can get so caught up in everything we don’t have that we lose site of the amazing pieces of our existence. Let us not just acknowledge what we are grateful for, but also take action to show it.

Times are tough for some that perhaps don’t have their families around or who are faced with challenging circumstances, but always remember that no matter what we are going through, there is always something to be grateful for. Focus on what you have to be thankful for and watch how God blesses you with even more.

I’m so grateful for everyone that interacts with Miracles Are Brewing. Your support, readership, engagement and encouragement fuel me more than you’ll ever know. It’s an honor to share pieces of my life with each of you. THANK YOU for all the loving support you all show each and every day. I’m so grateful to have you as part of the growing Miracles Are Brewing community. My commitment has always been to share my life experiences through my writing and to offer inspiration to as many people as possible. My heart is full of gratitude for the ability to do this. I so deeply appreciate everyone who has touched my life, my work and my heart. You are incredible beings. Thank you so much.

Happy Thanks Giving!