"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” - Marcel Proust

Today I and grateful for the opportunity to give thanks and to reflect on all the many blessings in my life. Yesterday, we returned home after spending the past several days celebrating Thanksgiving with our family near home here in the Sierra Nevada, and a bit farther away in the Bay Area. Oh, how grateful I am for this time with family! Last month our loved ones in Canada celebrated Thanksgiving there and I am glad to share a season of thanksgiving that lasts for weeks and helps me make gratitude part of my daily life.

I am thankful for our loved ones. For my darling wife who is such a wonderful partner in every aspect of the lives we share. For our two fine sons who have grown to be kind and caring men. For all our family and the love we share. I am thankful that ours is a close family both when we are all near at hand, and at those times when we must be far apart. In the past few days, we’ve shared food and laughter, talk and quiet joy with almost all of our immediate family. Soon my dear younger sister and her husband will be back in California after some years abroad, and I know we will all gather together again to celebrate their return.

I am thankful that our loved ones include family members who are among our closest friends, and precious friends who have become family for us. I find the greatest joy, comfort, and fulfillment in my life when I am with these special ones. Even when we are far apart, the thought of them, and memories of all we’ve shared, fill my heart to overflowing with sweet warm love. Sharing our joy together as our families grow, sharing our strength when times are hard, sharing adventures, and quiet times at home helps make my life rich and meaningful. I am grateful for the way we grow closer to our loved ones as the years go by.

I am thankful for all the friends whose generous presence helps bring so much wonderful variety to the act of living. The way that our lives overlap in common interests and values. The places where their delightful differences expand my world with new thoughts, feelings, experiences, and expressions. The chance to care and be cared for. The simple comfort in the voice, smile, presence of a friend.

I am thankful for creativity. For the chance to make music and art, and to experience the artistry of the singers, dancers, makers, and writers. For the process of creation shared and also experienced as a private journey. For the weaving not only of fabric, fiber, and sticks, but of voices, ideas, and feelings. For the artistry of all the ages carefully preserved, and the bright surprise in the flash of new creation.

I am thankful for the opportunity to work and to make a difference. For the people of good character who share our work and those who benefit from it and go on to change the world. I cannot find words good enough to express my thanks for all that work has provided for our family.  I am so grateful that we have go leor, in Irish these words mean “enough”, and humbled that so often we have been blessed with so much more until go leor becomes the abundance of galore.

With my own love of words, I am grateful for language. For books, and the way the carry the thoughts and feelings of those who’ve come before as well as new ones waiting to be explored. For the voices of those with whom I share this time. They comfort me when I am lonely or afraid, and make my gladness greater in the sharing. I am grateful, too, for the quiet times when we can rest and be together. For thoughts and feelings shared in a look, or the gentle touch of a loved one’s hand. I am so thankful that we will share all the time we still have stretching out before us.

I am thankful for compassion and patience. For the chance to show and share it with others, and always to learn more how about how I can best be compassionate and patient. For the precious gift of others compassion for and patience with me. When times are hard, I know there are many loved ones, friends and colleagues who have my back

Most of all, I am thankful for love. Of all the blessings in my life this one, greatest and most fundamental, embraces them all and gives them their sweetness, strength, and meaning. I am one tiny flower on a tree whose roots stretch back through time unmeasured, and whose branches reach out toward eternity. One tiny star gleaming in an endless fabric of wonder. I know, and more than knowing I have faith, that love goes on forever, transcending space and time. That, in love, we are one always and everywhere.