Saturday, December 6, 2014

Giving Thanks for Changes by Patricia Forsythe


A few weeks ago, Alicia Street blogged about ‘Novembering’ the nostalgic feeling we get in the fall that makes us think about the past and the changes we inevitably go through.  Many times, we think that change is a bad thing, but when we stop and consider, it usually turns out to have positive benefits – including adjustments to our attitude about change itself.
A friend I worked with has had a number of health challenges over the past few years, from foot surgery to breast cancer to diabetes to shingles to kidney stones.  Yet through all of this, she has been cheerful and upbeat every time I talk to her.   She has overcome every one of these health issues and while she contributes it to good medical professionals and care, I think ninety percent of it is her attitude.  Whenever we talk, she mentions something for which she is grateful or thankful. 

The thing about change is that it creates our future.  Our attitude about it sometimes has a bigger impact than the change itself, so we might as well embrace it.  And that’s where being thankful comes in.  Every year in November, Thanksgiving rolls around here in the states.  It’s a national holiday not meant to celebrate heroes or military triumphs or anything except being glad for what we’ve got and sharing a festive meal with friends and family.  It is a chance to slow down for a day and concentrate on what we are blessed with, such as certain foods that only come out once a year.  I mean seriously, who wants to roast a turkey in July?  Or eat pumpkin pie?  We also get to enjoy the people we’re blessed with and long for the ones who are no longer with us.


Christmas has become too commercialized, but we don't have to be part of that.  We can choose to have a smaller, more thoughtful, more giving Christmas if we want.  And as the end of the year approaches, we can reflect on the changes we've experienced, even though some of them were ones we didn't like.     

Change is going to come whether we want it to or not, so we might as well enjoy it.


We will be sending out a Christmas enewsletter with a collection of Christmas stories you won't want to miss! To sign up, please scroll down on the right and enter your email address under Mailing List. And don't miss our Santa's Sweet Romance Reads Bash on Facebook on Weds Dec 17th-noon to 8 p.m. Eastern. Sign up to join in the fun here: http://on.fb.me/1yqvdOe
Patricia Forsythe is the author of more than thirty books, some of which have been print published by Harlequin and Kensington and some which she has self-published as ebooks.  Her current series takes place in Lucky Break, Arizona and her newest release is Lucky Break: Homecoming in the Sweet Christmas Kisses boxed set.

3 comments:

  1. I agree with you, attitude can make so much difference. Your friend sounds like a wonderful positive person to have in your life. I find Christmas too commercial as well. This year I've bought fewer presents and I'm concentrating on making it a time for family to be together.

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  2. So true, Patricia. Thank you for the reminder about attitude.

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  3. Thank you Patricia for reminding us that a positive attitude makes a big difference in the outcome of problems and often pushes us toward wonderful results. I hate the commercialization of Christmas and try to make this holiday a warm family gathering with Mass, and grace at the table, while each kid will tell us what he or she is grateful for. Sure enough we often get: "I'm grateful for my new Lego, or for my new doll." But it's cute.

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