By Lori Welch Brown

I am gobsmacked that I’m writing my November column. Seriously. It feels like just yesterday I was contemplating my SPF choices while simultaneously praying I’d have the perfect swimsuit body that would require protection from the sun. Sigh. While that ship has sailed, my gratitude ship is here at the dock waiting patiently for me. And I’m ready to load up.

As a Virgo, I can find fault in pretty much anything. I’m always looking for the crack in the vase, the flower that didn’t bloom, the sock that didn’t get picked up. And I can find those things all day long. It’s part of my DNA. While that attention to detail has served me well on several occasions, it doesn’t always serve me well in my personal life. It makes me a good editor. It makes me someone whom people trust to make sure all the ‘i’s are dotted and the ‘t’s are crossed, but it doesn’t make me easy to live with (sorry, XXL). And if I’m putting that kind of focus on things and people around me, imagine the microscope I’m putting on myself. No bueno.

But, contrary to popular belief, old dogs can learn new tricks. And, I for one, am trying to master the art of gratitude—as well as ‘sit’ and ‘stay’ which also take a tremendous amount of patience and skill. For the record, treats are a great motivator for both the four legged and two legged among us. While Dozer favors bacon and cheese flavored treats, I prefer ice cream and peanut butter.

But, I digress. Just like flaws are easy to find, it turns out, so are things to be grateful for. This morning, I am grateful for sunshine, as I haven’t seen it in what feels like an eternity. Thank you, Sunshine. I am grateful for your light and warmth. I am grateful for the pitter patter of Dozer’s paws across the tile floors. Our vet recently found a cancerous tumor which we are treating, but who knows how many days, weeks, months, years that I’ll hear that sound. I don’t want to think about it. If there’s an upside to a health scare, it’s that it makes us appreciate things real quick. I won’t take that sound for granted ever again.

Dozer is getting away with murder these days as well as getting loads of treats. He is milking the ‘C’ card that’s for sure. That being said, I sure am grateful for that vet who found the tumor, and I’m grateful for his doggy oncologist and his team who have been taking such good care of our sweet boy.

Gosh—and I am just grateful for fall in general. I love all the smells—cinnamon, apple, pumpkin, and clove. I love the bright orange and yellows and browns and greens. And, of course, I love being able to pull out my jackets and cozy sweaters and boots. And who doesn’t love a fire pit and a nice glass of Cabernet on a chilly fall night? Grateful.

And, of course, no November column would be complete without mentioning Thanksgiving—the day where we gather with family and friends to give thanks for our cornucopia of blessings. Alas—your reality may be that you aren’t grateful for your family at all. Maybe you want to trade them in for the Bundys or the Duttons. Maybe you cringe at sitting across the table from Uncle Al who will be wearing his MAGA hat or Aunt Edith who will be trying to convince you that tofu actually doesn’t taste like styrofoam. Whatever the case, try to stay grounded in gratitude. Tell yourself that dinner only lasts for an hour and if you chew fast, you can probably get it down to 11 minutes. Offer to do the dishes so you have an excuse to leave the table.

Gratitude, schmatitude…this is easy for me to wax poetic about right now. I haven’t lost my job and I’m not furloughed. I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, and many freedoms some people only dream of. But when times are tough, what has gotten me through is focusing on simple things that I can hold onto and feel gratitude for—like a spoonful of mashed potatoes. Gratitude can be as small and simple as being grateful for a sunbeam or an unexpected text from a friend. Start small. Gratitude grows from a simple seed planted with kindness—and it definitely shouldn’t be reserved for one day out of the year. Sow the seeds daily and watch your garden grow and bloom.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours—may you be swaddled in gratitude and mashed potatoes. And gravy. And maybe a pumpkin espresso martini.

About the Author: Lori is a local writer, painter and pet lover who loves to share her experiences and expertise with our readers. She has been penning a column for the OTC for over 25 years. Please follow Lori online on Medium for more missives like this.