A thankful November

Just Frances was started with the idea of sharing random nothingness with family and friends as a way to stave off the isolation I was feeling in the first few months after Paul died. It had started with the idea that it would be bright and cheery (fake it ‘til you make it sort of stuff) but slowly I started to share my grief and other less-than-cheery stuff.

I don’t always like sharing the sad stuff because I don’t want to be “that” person, but sometimes the act of sharing the sad makes it easier for me to move past it. And I know I share a lot of sad stuff and that, depending on what’s going on in my world, the sad can seem to dominate, but I like to think that I don’t sound too doom-and-gloom. I like to think that people can see that I’m happy and cheerful quite often – or at least that I’m trying to be happy and cheerful.

Thankfully, I have managed to recapture some of my joy over the past couple of years. It’s not always been easy, but I’ve found that faking it helps. I’ve also found that it helps to take a step back now and then to recognise where the good moments are. (Hence, my Finding Joy resolution for 2010.)

But here’s the point: I’ve been so wrapped up in my move and starting school and all of the stress that comes along with major life changes that I’ve been neglecting the thankful things in my life. So, since Thanksgiving is at the end of November, I’ve decided to spend the month reflecting on what I’m thankful for.

For the next month, I will post something I’m thankful for on my blog. I will post those things each day on the left side of Just Frances, just under the block of photos. I will also keep a running list of those things here if you miss a day. (But you’re on here every day, right?)

And here’s a challenge for you: Take some time to look around your world and find something to be thankful for. You can do it just once, or for a week, or a month, or a year, or forever – that’s up to you. Just remember to take some time to reflect on the good things and the thankful things in your life. And feel free to share some of them with me on this post or the running list.

(Oh! And if you want to know what I’m thankful for today, I am thankful for the love and support I’ve received from family, friends, and strangers over the past couple of years.)