Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

During my drive home tonight on the long stretch of highway to my place at The Beach I began thinking about all the things I wanted to list out for each Day Of Thanksgiving. Starting last year, I try to write down at least one "something" per day that I am thankful for during the turkey month. The end of the year can become so tiresome, especially as I always feel like it's another deadline to be met and I can't help but take stock of what did or did not get accomplished in the last 11 months. But tonight all I could think of was how I could probably come up with hundreds of "somethings" to be thankful for; enough to last me a whole year!

Today my day consisted of choosing whether or not to work (for the most part, I chose not to), followed by leisurely taking phone calls and emails while catching up on my favorite TV shows; then later a facial and an early dinner with friends. And while not every day looks that way, I do work in trade with friend of mine who gives the most delicious massages, which I try to schedule in every week. Every sunset and sunrise I go to sleep and wake to the sound of the ocean crashing its way on shore. A noise that most people pay hoards of money to hear for only a few days during their vacation. And if I feel like taking a lunch break, I sometimes walk across the street, organic food in hand, to enjoy a half hour of seaside rest while soaking in the sunshine and warmth that hangs over this fair city almost every day.

This is my life.

And I know there is much more to come, but for right now what more could this City Girl want?

Somethin' from Nothin'

Secondary title: One more time with feeling(s)!

I'm in New Mexico this year for Thanksgiving which is a far cry from Disneyland-my usual stop for this time of year. And while I wanted to be in Disneyland this year (like all the years before) I'm so glad I'm not. Since I got here I've been showered with praise from some of my very best good friends and I needed it oh-so-much! Although, I didn't realize just how badly I was in need of a boost.

Since losing the job I've had for the past 3 years, I've decided to stop trying to work for someone else. At some point it's not going to work out. Either they will let me go, because the economy will shift and people will stop advertising or I will once again long to be my own boss. In fact, I find that to be the reason more often than Scenario A. I love being my own boss so much that I end up scrutinizing how my bosses runs their businesses and how it can be done better.

So, when one more part of my life seemed to crumble away this month all I had to look forward to was a few projects from my own clients and one last adventure in the southwest. And let me tell you a little something about the southwest: it's the most visually barren and depressing place I've ever visited. It's also the only place I visited this year where I've laughed and felt so much joy and thankfulness every single day. Ironically, as my friend pointed out while I was here, I just traveled to a whole lotta nothin' to get a whole bunch of somethin'.