On Monday night I was cozy in my apartment. Candles were lit, I had a glass of wine and I was cooking dinner. I don’t know what brought it on but I was overcome with this sense of immense gratitude. Of course all the sentiments of today’s holiday were already upon us but suddenly I had so many things that I was grateful for running through my mind. I decided to leave my dinner simmering on the stove and promptly sat down to begin writing this post.

On this special day of thanks I thought I would share the twelve things I am most grateful for today.

1. My family. My biggest support system.
2. My health. I am healthier this year than I have been in many years past. It means everything to me and I don’t go a day taking it for granted.
3. My friends. What wonderful memories I have made with friends this year. I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many smart, witty, caring, thoughtful, determined, joyful, inspiring people.
4. My home. I have loved having a place of my own the past six months. I feel so grateful to have a place to call home in a neighborhood I have come to really love.
5. My wit & whimsy team. Bekka and Kate are the best I could ask to work with.
6. My self-employment. Not a day goes by where I don’t think about how lucky I am to be creating my own career destiny. Between my PR consulting business and wit & whimsy I am so blessed for the people I get to work with and to be able to do work I love.
7. My faith. I am grateful to feel I have guidance and guardian angels out there.
8. New York. I love this city dearly. It has shaped who I am proud to be today.
9. Opportunity. I am so lucky to live in a place where I can seek out and take advantage of opportunity. It is something not afforded to everyone and I am acutely aware of that.
10. You. For every one of you who has visited wit & whimsy – especially those of you have been a reader for a long time – thank you, thank you. I am forever grateful that you make this a place I want to continue to share myself.
11. Those who speak up. This has been a challenging year for so many reasons but I am grateful for those who take time to use their voices, to fight for causes and to speak up for those who cannot.
12. Smiles & “thank yous.” The other day one of the men who helps upkeep my apartment building said something that really struck me. As I thanked him for cleaning the windows outside my building he looked up and said “thank you…thank you for thanking me.” Too often we take common courtesy for granted or we say things without meaning them. I am grateful that so much can be said with a simple smile or a simple “thank you.” Better yet, they come at no cost no matter how often you use them.

(p.s. the next Thursday installment of the gift guides will be live later this afternoon.)

I want to take this opportunity to wish each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!

xo,

Meghan

[Carter Fish Photography from this post]