December has swung her doors wide open, greeting me with twinkle lights and heavily scented fir candles. (All I can hear is Aunt Bethany from Griswold's Christmas Vacation say, "Is your house on fire, Clark?") I blinked and Thanksgiving was kissing me goodbye. I guess I was laughing too hard and stuffing my face too much to notice. The Thanksgiving weekend was one like I haven't experienced in a long time -I actually took the time to be still. I am not one who can be still for long. I typically give myself about 30 minutes of alone time until I'm interacting with human beings and crushing coffee at multiple coffee shops. For the past five days I did something that is hard for me to do. I drove to my family's farm, parked my car, and didn't leave.
In the scheme of things, five days is a drop in the bucket of time. Spending this time soaking in the natural world around me felt like a month of bliss. I spent time Thanksgiving morning walking on the fallen leaves, watching as the wind whipped them through the air. Thoughts of the year's events floated through my mind as I smiled knowing the year to come would bring more surprises, challenges, and laughs. The most important thing on my mind this Thanksgiving morning, however, was how I was going to avoid the dirty work of Thanksgiving preparations and clean up. Sorry mom.
By the end of the week, I had learned a few solid things about myself. I realized that I am more stubborn than I think. I learned what to say when you are asked, "Why aren't you married yet?" The most crucial thing I learned was that I can actually stay in one place for more than a few hours. I can go more than 4 days without making a coffee/cocktail date. It was a stretch, but I met the challenge. I allowed my extroverted brain to rest for a while. I spent time training the new pup and gave my mom and aunt a private concert. (I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that.) This was a new Thanksgiving with fabulous memories, a new heart, and fresh inspiration.
What did you take away from your Thanksgiving holiday?