Half full or half empty?

Is your glass half empty or half full? Mine tends to be almost completely full but there are time when it empties a bit. However, even if there’s only half a glass, it’s still enough to nourish and refresh…but only if drunk.

The end of the year is a time when many bloggers are looking back at the past year. The Lens Artists Challenge, Thursday Doors, and others suggest we share our favorite photos of the year. I always plan to do that, but when push comes to shove, I just can’t do it: too many photos to choose from and too many that I’d choose. Every day I put out photos that I love, photos I hope you love as well and that has to be enough.

Merry Chr…JUST STOP!!!

I know many of us love Christmas.  It’s my favorite holiday, for both religious and family reasons.  But. Just. STOP!!!  You’re missing the holiday chance of a lifetime, a chance to both enjoy family a/o friends, food, and an opportunity to count your blessings.

Before you dive into the appetizers, the drinks, the turkey, the mashed potatoes, or whatever food you prefer (my family tends to like my homemade ravioli for every holiday), take a minute to think about what you’re thankful for.  You might go around the table and do this, make your own lists, take a moment of silence to think about it, but PLEASE, make that list! And put aside thoughts of Christmas just for the day.  By rushing Christmas, you miss the chance to take a just to be thankful.  I think that’s something that in this day and age of negativity, we dearly need!

We have so much for which to be thankful.  Having an “attitude of gratitude” every day and not just on Thanksgiving (which, if you live in the US, is today) makes all the difference.  If you blog, you have a computer and internet access, a blessing in itself. But if you start listing your blessings, you’ll find you won’t have time to dwell as much on the less positive things in your life.

Our family won’t be together until Christmas.  Today it’s just my husband and me,  recovering either from a cold (me) or sinus infection (him.)  But to be able to simply take a day to relax and recover, sleep, read, watch TV, take a walk, or whatever else, together, is blessing enough.  And of course, I’m thankful for each and every one of you who reads and comments on my blog, a daily source of joy.  Thanks to each of you and may God richly bless you, today and every day!

Time out Tuesday

Stop!  Time out!  No political talk. It’s too late.  Voting has begun and will continue relentlessly until it’s all over, finally!

Let’s jettison the negativity and instead, let’s assume an attitude of gratitude.  Some of my friends and acquaintances are listing one thing each day for which they’re thankful.  Let’s try that.  I’m going to start and I’d like everyone who reads this post to list in a comment at least one thing for which they’re thankful.  It will do all our spirits good and is a great way to start or end a day.

I’m thankful for:

my family
a great church family
a great work family
a great blogging community
books
good food
travel
photography
thrift stores
being outdoors
having a place in Wyoming
horses.

OK, it’s your turn. I want to hear from you and I want all the positive noise to crowd out everything else for just a bit.