As Thanksgiving approaches, I can’t help thinking of how thankful I am.
Last Christmas, my dear friend Angela sent a life-changing book and journal. In “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are,” author Anne Voskamp challenged me to write 1,000 gifts, 1,000 reasons I have to be thankful.
I have 930 so far.
The hardest part of this discipline is practicing gratitude in moments of anger, sorrow or fear.
I am nowhere near mastering this.
It’s much easier to be thankful when I’m happy, but I find that even in tough moments, there is something for which to be grateful — and sometimes, intentionally practicing gratitude is enough to change my emotions.
Tomorrow would be the perfect day to take up this challenge, unless you want to start today.
Here’s a sampling from my list.
931: my job at the library (the fact that I have a job)
932: I love my job
933: the children who come to programs and make my job delightful
934: the parents who bring them
935: and are so supportive
936: and encouraging
937: coworkers who lighten things up behind the scenes
938: books that move me to laughter
939: or tears
940: volunteers who shelve
941: and shelf-read
942: and clean
943: and help people on computers
944: and prepare crafts!
See? It’s not hard!
Programs
We’ll be thankful at Lap Sit this morning! Sign-in begins when the doors open at 10 a.m. Nursery rhymes and music begin at 10:15 a.m. Lap Sit is designed for children under age 3 and their caregiver. Older children are welcome.
Children 3 and up, bring your favorite blanket to Story Time on Monday, Nov. 26 for stories and activities about blankets and families. Sign-in begins when the doors open at 10 a.m. Stories and activities begin at 10:15.
Staff Pick
“1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving” by W. Nikola-Lisa. Count your way through this fun family feast!
Heather Nitzel is the Crestview Public Library's youth services librarian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CHECK IT OUT: Count your blessings