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With Thanksgiving only a few days away, I wanted to share a few photographs I snapped, along with some gratitude quotes that I find very inspirational.

I have to be honest and say that giving thanks is something I need to continually be reminded of because it flows in and out of my consciousness.

When things are going smoothly, I sometimes take my blessings for granted because, well, things are going smoothly. But then when my life unexpectedly takes a sharp turn and drives down a bumpy road, I'm either jarred back into remembering all the things I have to be grateful for because I'm suddenly humbled, or they elude me while focusing only on the bumpy road.

So what I try to do at the end of each day, is take a few minutes to recall all that I am blessed with and say THANK YOU. Sometimes I remember to do that, but then some days I forget. However, I am getting better at making a conscious effort.

I sincerely believe that when I am more aware of my blessings, I'm happy, whether things are going smoothly or not.

It's just a matter of me remaining aware.

So here are some of the things I say to myself...








And I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of YOU for being present, because you too are one of my many blessings.

Thanks everyone and have a Happy Thanksgiving Day!

(((((((( Y'all ))))))))
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Update: Because of the Thanksgiving holiday and tomorrow being Black Friday (a very early work day for me), I will be posting again on Monday. Thanks so much for your understanding and patience. Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!
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54 comments:

  1. You have such depth of feeling, Ron, no wonder we all admire you so. I have to admit that I seldom give time to count my blessings until I'm jogged into it. It is so easy to take everything for granted and forget to give thanks or show appreciation, but it's there deep down. Perhaps I should unearth some of it.


    I am not sure when Thanksgiving is but I guess it's soon. May your day be peaceful and reflective x

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  2. What beautiful photos and words! I am thankful for you as well! Wishing you a bountiful Thanksgiving, Ron! XO

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  3. This is such an amazing reminder and a great time to post it! There really is ALWAYS something to be grateful for even though there are times it is really hard to see past the negative! Thank you for this reminder!


    P.S shoot me an email - what are your thoughts on J. Hilburn I have a question for ya on it :)

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  4. Oh Ron, what a beautiful Thanksgiving Day post! Valerie is right, you have such depth of feeling and express yourself so well. The photographs you shared match the quotes perfectly. That first one is so beautiful!

    "It's just a matter of me remaining aware." True. And not only on Thanksgiving Day but everyday.



    Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day and thank you too. You are one of my favorite blogs to read! x

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  5. Thank you :) And you too, my friend!!!


    Happy Thanksgiving!


    X

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  6. Good morning Valerie!

    "It is so easy to take everything for granted and forget to give thanks or show appreciation, but it's there deep down."

    Yes, and I think it is for me as well. Yet sometimes I forget, especially when things are going smoothly.

    "May your day be peaceful and reflective."



    Thank you. Thanksgiving Day is on Thursday, here in the US. And I think we may be getting some snow on Wednesday, so we might have a WHITE Thanksgiving :)


    Have a super week, dear lady and thanks so much for stopping by!


    X to you and Joe!

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  7. Ron, THANK YOU for these beautiful photos and quotes! I try to be thankful ALL the time, but like you, find it more challenging when things aren't going smoothly. Perhaps we're all a bit like that.

    Is that a ginkgo tree in some of these pictures? There's one in one of the yards Dallas and I pass on our walks. The leaves are so distinctive, but the smell is just AWFUL this time of year, ha!

    Happy Thanksgiving right back at ya! Enjoy the feast (and the day off?!!)

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  8. "There really is ALWAYS something to be grateful for even though there are times it is really hard to see past the negative! "

    You said, it Shae!

    "P.S shoot me an email - what are your thoughts on J. Hilburn I have a question for ya on it :)"



    Will do!


    Have a faaaabulous Thanksgiving Day, my friend, and thanks so much for stopping by!


    X

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  9. Hola Denise!

    "And not only on Thanksgiving Day but everyday."



    I agree! Giving thanks should be EVERYDAY.


    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!!


    X

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  10. Hello there Debbie!

    "I try to be thankful ALL the time, but like you, find it more challenging when things aren't going smoothly. Perhaps we're all a bit like that."

    Yes, perhaps it's something we all find challenging, you're right.

    "Is that a ginkgo tree in some of these pictures? There's one in one of the yards Dallas and I pass on our walks. The leaves are so distinctive, but the smell is just AWFUL this time of year, ha!"



    I had to Google the name of that tree because I am so horrendous at horticulture, but you are spot on... it IS a Ginkgo tree! And OMG...you are right...the smell is just awful this time of the year. But aren't the leaves GORGEOUS?


    Happy Thanksgiving day, my friend!!!!!


    X to you, Domer, and Dallas!


    P.S. Yes, I have the day off. We are not open on Thursday, like so many other stores - which I think is just not right.

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  11. Ron, I love the photograph of the guy sitting by the tree who looks to be in meditation. What a great shot! And the corresponding quote goes so well. But all these photos and quotes rock!

    "I'm either jarred back into remembering all the things I have to be grateful for because I'm suddenly humbled, or they elude me while focusing only on the bumpy road." I think you speak for so many of us. And I think we need the bumpy roads to sometimes remind us.



    Happy Thanksgiving Day, dude. And thank YOU!

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  12. Hiya Matt!

    I took that shot of the guy sitting under the tree a few weeks ago while I was walking through a park. I saw him sitting there and just HAD to take a picture because he looked so peaceful. I loved how the sun was hitting him.

    " And I think we need the bumpy roads to sometimes remind us."

    I think so too.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, buddy. Wishing you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!
    X

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  13. Ron, it's not only what you say but how you say it that I enjoy. You use yourself as a means of allowing us to think and feel for ourselves.

    As always, your photographs are beautiful. The water drops on the leaves look like crystal peals. Inspiring quotes!

    Happy Thanksgiving, Ron. And thanks for being here.

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  14. This is a lovely post filled with gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Ron.

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  15. Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Suzi!!!!

    Have a super week, my friend!

    X

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  16. Thank you, Robert :)


    HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you too, buddy! Have a fabuloso week!!!!!


    X

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  17. And thank you, Ron, for writing such a beautiful post and for being such a fabulous friend.


    I've been feeling pretty low lately, so these affirmations and lovely images remind me that I, too, have been blessed and that it's time to say thanks for what I have as opposed to complaining about what I don't have.


    I'm truly grateful to have you in my life, buddy, and I thank you always being there. Take care and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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  18. I love all your photos, Ron - as well as the quotes that accompany them. Very inspirational! You could turn those into motivational posters and make a killing.


    Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving!

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  19. Really great photos - love the water drops on the leaf...

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  20. Thank you, Grace :)

    Happy Thanksgiving to you, your husband, and the kitties!

    X

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  21. Thank you, Mark :) I'm seriously thinking of adding some of these to my Zazzle store sometime this month. I also may be opening another store online, where I can sell some of my photographs. It's called Society6.


    Happy Thanksgiving to you and Tara!


    X

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  22. Thank you for these! Beautiful images combined with such profound inspiration. I often focus on what I lack instead of appreciating what I have. It's a daily struggle.

    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Ron! I'm thankful for the gift of your friendship. xoxo

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  23. " It's a daily struggle."

    Me to, Chrissy. Which is why I have to remind myself daily :)

    " I'm thankful for the gift of your friendship."

    And I am for yours as well!

    (((((( You )))))

    Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING, girl!

    X to you and the gang!

    P.S. I hope all is well with Dino.

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  24. Mel....

    ((((((((((((((((((((((( YOU ))))))))))))))))))))))))

    Thank you. Thank you SO MUCH for your beautifully honest and sincere comment. And yeah, it also me tearful because I know that you TOTALLY 'get it ' because of the challenging life experiences you've been through and yet, you still find the gratitude.

    "I have a whiteboard at work and crayons....and I make a point of listing my joys for the world to see. I'm very conscious of how graced I am."

    That is so awesome!

    "And I adore that I can call you "friend".

    Ditto, my friend. And bless your soul as well. Gosh, can you believe that you and I have been blogging with each other now for SEVEN years?!

    Thank you!

    HAPPY Turkey Day, my Libra friend!

    (((((( YOU ))))))

    X

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  25. Enjoyed the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Ron. Chef Snoopy!

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  26. HAHAHAHA! Isn't Snoopy a HOOT?

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  27. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comTuesday, November 25, 2014

    Fabulous shots and such inspiring words. It really is too easy to get hung up on the things we don't have instead of appreciating what we do have.

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  28. Oh, these are ALL so special, I have no fav, loved them all.


    Giving thanks IS so important, it is a powerful force in itself, to give thanks and to mindful of our many blessings.


    I regularly speak gratitude affirmations throughout the day, especially to start the day on a good note and to give myself a 'pick me up' if I'm feeling a bit blue or cranky.


    Yes, we always have things and people to be thankful for. Even the "small things" like running water, living in a country at peace, nature...I take that back, make that BIGGIES that we often take for granted but should be thankful for, I try to include those on my list too.


    I am thankful for your wonderful blog too Ron and finding my way here via Valerie's blog. Aaaawwww..shucks!!! Hope that made you smile a bit too. :-)


    Have a fabulous week and Thanksgiving too!

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  29. Thank you, Fiona :)

    "It really is too easy to get hung up on the things we don't have instead of appreciating what we do have."

    Yes it is, which is why I try to remind myself of the things I DO have each day.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a SUPER week!

    X

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  30. "I regularly speak gratitude affirmations throughout the day, especially to start the day on a good note and to give myself a 'pick me up' if I'm feeling a bit blue or cranky."

    That's AWESOME, Geraldine!

    "Even the "small things" like running water, living in a country at peace, nature...I take that back, make that BIGGIES that we often take for granted but should be thankful for, I try to include those on my list too."



    You are absolutely right, those are BIGGIES and things we take for granted as "small things" all the time. Even things like having food to eat and a comfortable home to live in.


    Thanks so much for stopping by and for your sweet words, my friend. And yes, it DID make me smile :) And I'm thankful to have found your blog as well!


    HAPPY THANKSGIVING, my friend. Have a FAB week!!!!!


    X

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  31. I'm thankful that there are people in the world that are as kind, smart, silly, empathetic and wicked as you! Have a beautiful, peaceful Thanksgiving, bro!

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  32. Aw...thank you.

    And the same goes from me to YOU!

    Have a glorious Thanksgiving, Sis!

    X ya BUNCHES!!!

    ((((((((( YOU )))))))))

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  33. Happy Thanksgiving, Ron. Lovely tribute to Thanksgiving and giving to one's self the gift of living.

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  34. Hello there Lauen!

    " and giving to one's self the gift of living."

    LOVED that! And you're so right!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. And HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
    X

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  35. Glad to hear you have off tomorrow, Ron. Rest up for Black Friday!

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  36. Will do, Elaine! I plan on doing nothing tomorrow but eat and relax :)

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  37. Hey Ron! Stopping by to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!! Your blog brings me such joy and I am grateful for YOU!! Have an awesome day! xo Jeanne and the girls

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  38. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jeanne, and for your sweet words, my friend!

    Ditto to you!

    ((((((( You )))))))

    Hope you're having a Happy Thanksgiving Day!

    X to you, your hubby, and the girlz!

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  39. Gingko leaves make such a beautiful groundcover in the fall.


    I also believe that the more I can stay aware of what I'm grateful for, the better I feel. And like you, I have to remind myself frequently to be thankful!


    Happy Thanksgiving, friend!!

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  40. "Gingko leaves make such a beautiful groundcover in the fall."

    I SO agree! Aren't they BEAUTIFUL? It's like a nature's fall carpet!

    "I also believe that the more I can stay aware of what I'm grateful for, the better I feel."

    Isn't something how that works?

    Thanks so much for stopping by and for being here, my friend! You are appreciated.

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
    X

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  41. So beautiful, Ron, and some borrowed as future reminders. It's moments like these which highlights one of Elton John's most beautiful lines..."How wonderful life is, while you're in the world." Thank you for making life just that much more happy and alive!
    Happy Thanksgiving, Ron! :))

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  42. "...one of Elton John's most beautiful lines..."How wonderful life is, while you're in the world.""

    One of my favorite Elton John songs! "Your Song."

    "Thank you for making life just that much more happy and alive!"

    The same to you, Petra! Thank you for being here and for all that you share on your blog!

    Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
    X

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  43. Ron, thanks for the update because I was concerned when I saw that you didn't post today. Hope Black Friday in retail wasn't too stressful today. I look forward to your post on Monday!

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  44. Hey there Robert! Thanks for stopping by, buddy! I just got home from work about an hour ago. Actually, it wasn't stressful at all, it went smoothly. We were very busy, but not manic.

    See ya on Monday and have a great weekend!

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  45. Do you see me standing up and applauding? Because I am! I see all the looting going on.. I see the people in stores cutting in line in the spirit of Christmas... it is all so awful. You are right... appreciate what you have! The first two quotes were especially moving to me. And my favorite pictures are the stairs (gorgeous!) and the last one.

    I love that you take "people" shots.... You inspire me to do that as well!

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  46. Hellooooo Katherine!

    "I see the people in stores cutting in line in the spirit of Christmas... it is all so awful."

    It's funny because on Black Friday all the customers who came into my store to shop we're in such great moods and had the Christmas spirit - happy, cheerful, easy-going. However, over the past two days I've seen the moods switch - grumpy, impatient, just plain nasty. Especially today! OMG...we had such grumpy customers today :( I hope this is not a sign of what's to come in the next few weeks.

    I'm getting more brave about taking "people" photographs. And living in a city where people are all around you, it's been so much fun. I find photos with people in them very interesting.

    Hope you had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, my friend!

    X

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  47. We all need to sit back and reflect on the things in our life that we are thankful for, sorry I'm a little behind this week but am thankful for a friend such as you.


    Excellent post Buddy, I hope your Thanksgiving was great.

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  48. I'm grateful to have a friend such as you too, Jimmy!

    THANK YOU!

    Hope you and Cindy had a faaaaabulous Thanksgiving Day with your family!

    X to you both!

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  49. Gorgeous, gorgeous photos!! Love the quotes you chose to pair with them too. Yes, sometimes I think thankfulness and gratitude is something we all seem to need to force ourselves to feel. It's a conscious decision to be thankful for what we have and the people in our lives. Too often we overlook this and focus on the things we don't have. Lovely reminder. Hope you had a wonderful turkey day with those you love.

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  50. This is beautiful, Ron! The photos and the quotes! Great reminders for EVERY day just like you try to do. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I loved this.

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  51. Thank you, Lisa :) I had fun putting the quote together with the photos.

    "It's a conscious decision to be thankful for what we have and the people in our lives. Too often we overlook this and focus on the things we don't have."



    Amen! I agree!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope your Thanksgiving was faaaaaaabulous!


    X

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  52. Thank you, Angelia :)


    And I know that from some of the challenges you've been through last month, you have ALWAYS looked for the things you have to be grateful for. And I so admire that!


    ((((((( You )))))))


    Happy Thanksgiving, my friend! And thank you for being here.

    X

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  53. Belated Happy Thanksgiving Ron! Love the pics & quotes. I find if I try to live in the moment & don't worry about what might come next, I appreciate things more in my life.

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  54. " I find if I try to live in the moment & don't worry about what might come next, I appreciate things more in my life."


    Great attitude and outlook, Benze! And I applaud you for that because I know you've been through many challenges this past year, yet have always stayed positive.


    ((((((((( You ))))))))


    Thanks so much for being here, my friend. And I'm blessed to know you.


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