Lately I have been cultivating gratitude for the little things- the way our dog Ruby hugs into my leg while dancing with excitement each time I return home. I love watching the sunrise from our deck each morning and witnessing the magical moment when the mountains facing the sunrise glow an amazing orange in response. I am thankful for our often ridiculous family text trail that makes me smile when it lights up as my kids near and far exchange memes. I love the green tea I brew at home each morning and the way that three minutes pass as I patently wait in the quiet of my dark kitchen for it to steep. It has been getting cold here in Colorado and I love the sound as I light the fire before settling in front of it for the evening. 

There is magic in ordinary days. 

As we prepare for Thanksgiving in a few short weeks, it is the perfect moment to actively cultivate gratitude for the blessings we already have in our lives. Sure there is plenty in the world to worry about and at the same time, there are so many moments and gifts to be thankful for right now, in this moment. A short list to get us started:

An easy breath

A warm bed

Food in our belly and more in the kitchen for when we get hungry again

Light on dark nights

A friend to talk to

A pet to snuggle with and care for

Chapstick and moisturizer for cold days

Clean laundry 

Clean water

So many good books we will surely never run out

Music to meet the mood of the moment

The moon, the stars, the Sun, the clouds- always present, always changing

Add to this list and make it your own. Make it a practice this month simply by adding to it each day. The more we look for things to be grateful for, the more we see all that blesses our lives. Gratitude is a sure way to expand our vision to see the blessings infusing our lives with love and meaning. 

Finally, I am grateful for you! If you are reading this, our lives have intersected at some point. I wish you an abundance of blessings this November, all wrapped up in the magic of ordinary days. 

Onward in love,  Aveen