Gratitude: the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
It is Thanksgiving week here in the States, and while there is much to be grateful for, today I am filled with gratitude for discovering running. Who knew when I first laced up some running shoes the places it would take me, the friends I would make, the ways it would challenge me?
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
–William Arthur Ward
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment
I am also filled with gratitude for having found a community of like minded people after 8 years on WordPress. Yes, WordPress reminded me I signed up 8 years ago. Of course this blog isn’t even 2 years old yet, but first there were several blogs about subjects that won’t surprise my frequent blog readers: the furkids and food.
With those blogs, however, I never found my tribe, and eventually they were left to gather dust and taken down.
I have met such wonderful people — in real life and virtually — through this blog. The community is one of the best parts of blogging.
If you have your health you have everything
That might be overstating things a bit, but the truth is, without your health, life is hard. I am filled with gratitude that my body (with slight protests) does the things I ask it to do.
I think I run my strongest when I run with joy, with gratitude, with focus, with grace.
–Kristin Armstrong
Going on 4 years of maintaining my weight
I am also filled with gratitude for sticking out the hard years with Weight Watchers, the years when I couldn’t lose weight no matter how hard I tried. And when I say years, that’s no exaggeration.
Staying the course paid off in the end. Yes, my weight still fluctuates, but I have been pretty much maintaining my loss for almost 4 years now. Through many hard times. It takes a lot of planning, tracking, dedication, and meetings. But looking in the mirror — and more importantly feeling good about myself — yes, it fills me with gratitude.
Last but not least
I am filled with gratitude that over 31 years ago, Mr. Judy turned to me and said “what do you think about October?”. It might not have been the most romantic of proposals, but indeed, we did get married the following October, just eight months after he proposed.
He makes this blog possible, he supports my crazy ideas (and there are a lot of them), he works hard so that we can take in the hard case furkids. Love you always, honey.
Tell me in the comments:
What would you add to my gratitude list?
Is gratitude on your mind even if you’re not celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow?
Do you think about gratitude on days other than Thanksgiving?
I agree with you all the way Judy! Running, health, online friends, husband Im grateful for them all! And remembering to be grateful is important too. Looking back on life, maybe I’m also grateful for the twists and turns, the shocks and surprises that have made life a winding road in the hills instead of a 4lane highway, much more interesting!
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I’m not sure I’m always grateful for those twists & turns, even afterwards. Sometimes.
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Sometimes it needs a lot of distance….!
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Ps happy thanksgiving😊
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Thanks, Julie! I’m in the homestretch.
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❤
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So much to be grateful for! Love your list!
Love the proposal story…that is so cute! We are Oct. nuptials too….I have a little ways to make 30 yrs….lol!
I think I think about gratitude more during the holiday season but I do try to be grateful everyday.
Happy Thanksgiving Judy!
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Actually he proposed 32 years ago – we’ve been married 31! My parents are almost 69 years; I had a great example!
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Wow 69 years amazing!!!
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Here’s too October anniversaries! I definitely am grateful for the friendship and support I’ve found in our fitness-running-whatever blogging tribe. Happy Thanksgiving!
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I got carried away with my “too”. So here’s too us having an October anniversary too. And Tamieka too. 🙂
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Oops, thanks for pointing that out & I actually worked as a proofreader way back when. Have a great Thanksgiving, although I’m sure it’s hard this year. Hugs!
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Thank you Coco, hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
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2016 has been a tumultuous year for me. I have been full of gratitude for all the little things all year long. I like this time of year and all the reflection it brings!
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What a great post 😉 Like you, I am also SO thankful for all that running has brought to me…not “just” the accomplishments I’ve seen my body do, but the many wonderful people who also run and accomplish great things. Thanks for being one of those people 😉
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Thank you, Kim. Our running/blogging community is the best!
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Gratitude is ALWAYS on my mind because I am SO thankful to have my lab. She’s been struggling with health problems so being thankful for her here is always front and center in my mind every day.
I had a very un-romantic proposal too (and it was in october).
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My current hubby & I met on Oct 25 – 20 years ago. I don’t even remember the proposal so I doubt it was romantic.
I am grateful for most of the same things as you.
Have a great Thanksgiving,
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I would’ve had enough food for ALL your family. Except the salad — that was surprisingly a big hit. But I don’t have enough chairs for that many people.
Hopefully you had a nice day & meal.
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I would have preferred to cook. So the food was just ok. The whole purpose was getting the family together in one place. That was great. And met my nephew’s girl friend And she’s Russian
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I’ve done some good take out on thanksgiving (Desmond). I probably should have done it this year — it was a lot of work!
You’re just a Russian magnet now. 😊
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My mil ordered from Price Chopper. It was basic. Not my cup of tea. But food was not the purpose for the day.
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Food is ALWAYS the purpose in my family. OMG, you should have seen my Dad practically grabbing a dessert off the counter before the rest of them were out — although that’s partially due to his age.
It’s always kind of hard, wondering if they’ll be here next year.
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I don’t have many opportunities to cook for a lot of people so I used to enjoy try new recipes each year. That was when I had Wednesday off.
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No way I could have done everything in one day. I was cooking/baking/shopping for weeks.
At least it was a success & now I have a few favorite recipes nailed down. When I used to do it for friends in TX, we didn’t do turkey — not really my favorite thing, but it actually did turn out pretty good.
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I researched and shopped on Saturday, made the soup and pies on Sunday and the rest the day before or morning of. I did it every year for years. But I never tested the recipes in advance. It was hit or miss.
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Some of the shopping (fresh veggies, turkey) just can’t be purchased that early — butternut squash goes bad too quickly, for instance. And it was soup, salad, roasted veggies, breads, desserts, turkey . . . I also had to get the stuff for the stuffing.
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You are so right Judy- without your health life is so hard!! Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you, Lauren, hope you had a great day!
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This is one of my favorites of your blog posts, CRJ. I, too, am grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve met through either facebook or folks’ blogs. Gratitude for all the simple things helps to make our lives joyous.
Count us among the October weddings! Forty for us.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family, two-and-four legged.
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I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, Connie.
It can be so easy to get lost in our troubles, but there’s always people worse off. Way worse off, actually.
I am grateful for many things!
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We do have an amazing running/blogging community!
Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for linking up!
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You indeed have many things to be grateful for and I fully agree about your health. Taking care of our health and prevention is so important. And I love the blogging community too. So positive and inspirational. Happy thanksgiving.
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Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Karen! Yes, I have much to be grateful for. But right now I’m grateful Thanksgiving is over! 😉
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Remember I worked full time and before running I played tennis every night. Just had to fit it in. My hubby is zero help in the kitchen.
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Lloyd forgot to grease the stuffing pan. It’s still soaking . . . when I lived in TX & did it, I was working then, too.
Of course the dogs also take up more time than cats. 🙂
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I like the stuffing inside the turkey for flavor. And yes cats are easy.
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Oh, and no cleaning lady for me either! It’s Lloyd’s dad’s recipe. I’ve done other stuffings, both ways, I’m not really a big stuffing fan. Rather save myself for dessert. Of course.
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