What are we Thankful for?

We are entering in the holiday season and one of the best times of year for truly realizing what life is all about and being thankful for many things. I am blessed to have a wonderful family that I truly love and like. I like spending time with my family and look forward to the smiles, laughter and love. I am thankful for my wonderful friends and the great times we have had and will have. I am thankful for returning to California so quickly and the amazing opportunities that have presented themselves to me. I am thankful for meeting so many new and warm people in the last year and all the experiences I have had and will have. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow and be inspired. I am thankful for hopefully making a difference in a few people's lives and vice versa. My heart is full of love, especially in this time with many folks unemployed and having to reassess their lives. Last year at this time, I found myself in that situation and I think it really took that humbling experience to really see what is important in life and to truly see what to be thankful for. Life is a gift with much to be thankful for everyday!

Appreciating our Friends

We meet many people in our lifetime and some have a major impact, some a minor impact but everybody we meet shapes who we are. There are those childhood friends that you haven't seen in numerous years and when we see them again, we have an immense appreciation for their friendship. And when we get older, we really just look at the good in the person and though they may not be perfect, it's a completely different outlook than when we were kids. And then we have friends that are very close and over time, grow in different directions with their viewpoints, opinions, etc. A good friend is one in which each person can grow separately but not apart. But there are times, when perhaps we need to reevaluate our circle of friends to ensure that the cohesive balance remains intact and our friends add happiness to our lives and not unnecessary stress. Being a long time friend to someone who you need to pull away from can be very sad and almost like a divorce. But just like any change, it takes courage to recognize the need for change and appreciate the past, but then make changes for the better in the now and the future. There are so many people who can add much to each of our lives and it's up to us to be open to these little gifts!