NOVEMBER - THANK YOU!

I searched the internet for statements on what November is known for. To no surprise, it's major holidays like Thanksgiving and Veterans Day, the transition to colder weather in some parts of the U.S., and events like the end of Daylight Saving Time, Election Day, Diabetes Awareness Month, and other culinary celebrations that accompany the start of the Christmas season.

I have so many personal reasons for celebrating November. The most important is within the month of November, traditionally, there is one day set aside that most Americans give "Thanks"! We gather around family dinner tables and give thanks for family, we set aside time to pray and give thanks to Almighty God for his mercy and grace, and we give to families that don't have the means to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to their family, for which they are thankful. I just love Thanksgiving because that's when many people travel across the country to be with their family to celebrate the meaning of Thanksgiving together.

I also have several immediate family birthdays that we celebrate in November. So overall, this is a month where we express gratitude more often than any other month of the year. That's because we put more focus on the notoriety of the month to remind ourselves and sometimes others to be thankful for every day of our life.

It's been six (6) years since the love of my life, my sweetheart, my very best friend in all the world, has not been a part of these traditional celebrations. It's still hurtful to think about all the beautiful memories we made all those 40+ years of Thanksgivings, birthdays, and family gatherings we enjoyed together. I say it's hurtful because I have so many happy, beautiful memories that I can relive in my mind that it hurts to accept they can't be re-lived in the moment....only through the memory!

I'm getting better, though. I do have just as many memories that bring laughter and happiness at the thought of them. I have my ups and downs through these seasonal celebrations, but I'm learning to balance myself and not get stuck in a moment or memory that holds me down, even if only momentarily.

Do you have any memories of your loved one from November that you would like to share in this safe, secure community space for healing? If so, please feel free to do so, and if you have found ways to cope with those feelings you may have struggled with before during past holidays, would you share them with us? You are welcome, and we hope to hear from you!

Thank you. God's Blessings and Love, Grace