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I feel like another “Dear blog, it’s not you, it’s me” post is in order, but I’ve never been one for long, drawn-out apologies, so here you go: I’m back, sorry for being gone so long, all good? Great. 😀

Okay. So first, I’m here to assure anyone who might be wondering that I’m still alive over here, albeit not very active on the blogging front. I’m hoping that will change. But like I’ve mentioned before, I am still writing in other areas and outlets. Just not here. (Sorry, my poor blog. Okay, no more apologizing.)

Anyway, secondly, today is one of my favorite holidays, and the start of maybe my favorite time of year (Christmas — it’s in the running with fall…but here in California with its mild/late winters, Christmas might as well be in the fall). But with the monumental changes to our world this year, it’s shaping up to be a much different holiday season than most of us alive have ever experienced.

But it’s got me thinking. I wonder, if we could talk to our grandparents and great-grandparents about their experiences during the war years, if they would say something to the effect of, You pipsqueaks, get it together. This is nothing.

No, they didn’t have to deal with a pandemic along with blackouts and rationing and air raids and all that, but then again, we have so many more conveniences nowadays, that even with the current lockdowns and restrictions, it seems like we have it much easier in some ways than they did.

Plus, we still have our unlimited supplies of turkey and ham and all the rest of those necessary delicacies that come with a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.

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Not only were meat, cheese, butter, and other foods rationed during World War II, but also families were faced with gasoline and tire rationing. And likely many other shortages that I’m unaware of. Not to mention the fact that many loved ones were overseas or otherwise absent from family gatherings with the war effort.

We also might be dealing with travel restrictions and isolation from loved ones, but we are blessed with technology and methods of keeping in touch — face-to-face, if we choose — that a family in 1942 never would have had at their disposal.

(Click here for an informative article that goes more in depth about Thanksgiving in America during WWII.)

I admit that there are many reasons for sadness and disappointment this year, but there really are just as many reasons to be grateful, if you think about it. And believe me, I have to think about it for a good while, but they are there.

I’ve been trying to keep gratitude strong in my mind lately, at least when I think about it (which sometimes isn’t very often). But I want to do it more and make it a habit. For a while I was writing down three things I’m grateful for every day, something I’d like to start up again.

Things change when you have an overall attitude of gratitude. Both mentally/emotionally and even physically. Science has shown that you can literally change the chemistry of your brain when you start to express gratitude for things/people/situations in your life (even things that may not have occurred yet), and it’s even more powerful when paired with strong emotional feelings like joy and love. And I guess gratitude itself can be considered an emotion.

You’re not just mentally saying the words “I’m thankful,” but you’re also feeling that thankfulness down to your very core. That’s when things really begin to transform.

That’s all for now, but I’m planning to be back with more soon.

I wish you and your family a very safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving!

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