Thanksgiving Eve Thanks

On this Thanksgiving Eve morn, I began by reading the newest posts on a few of the blogs that I follow.

RunnerDude:  http://ncrunnerdude.blogspot.com/  RunnerDude wrote a sweet little ode giving thanks for his ability (and accoutrements that enable him) to run. It even kind of rhymed! (find him on Twitter @RunnerDude_)

DCRunnerGrrl, (find her on Twitter @dcrunnergrrl), wrote this piece about rewarding ourselves.  http://amyreinink.com/2009/11/25/carrot-and-stick-part-deux/  This was a good one for me to read, in that often I am in high gear trying to get “it” all done, when really, less would be more.

JuliBell shared some thoughts on simplifying things in one’s own life, a message that is true any day of the year but often forgotten during the craziness of the holiday season.  http://goddessrevealed.blogspot.com/2009/11/simplify.html

Separately, I enjoyed each of these posts.  But when taken together, as I read them this morning, I feel the need to sit down and write what I am thankful for (as RunnerDude did), to reward myself by writing after a morning of cooking (as DCRunnerGrrl suggested) and to explore where I might do LESS, as JuliBell discusses.

Running is my moving meditation, and I am loathe to give up any precious run for the sake of “doing less”.  However, what immediately springs to mind is my multitude of volunteer hours.  I volunteer my time often because it’s a good cause, I believe in the ideal of the cause, or simply because I feel guilty if I don’t do it, even when I have to drive 15-20 minutes out of my way to do 30-45 minutes of volunteering.  I end up spending much of my morning doing something that doesn’t ultimately feed my soul.  Is it necessary to do these things?  Will projects fall apart if I don’t do them?  Or, is my time working on these projects simply done and I haven’t made the effort to sever the cords that tie me to them?  Most likely it’s the latter.  It’s easier to stay the course than it is to veer, even if it means you might be happier with your new-found freedom. 

I spent the morning baking and cooking, as well as doing laundry.  I’m happy I did these things because a) I enjoyed puttering around in the kitchen baking the pumpkin pie and making the stuffing from scratch and b) I hung the laundry on the line in the cool Colorado sunshine, which just made my soul sing.  Now, I’m sitting at my desk with a cup of tea, writing down my thoughts.  All of these endeavors are lovely to me, and I am so incredibly thankful that I got to participate in them today.

My thanks to all of you in the cyber-world who continually inspire me with your deeds and words.  On this eve of Thanksgiving, I give thanks for you.