Stir.

“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.” –  Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s only now, when I read through the surprisingly limited brussel sprout recipes online, that I remember that I have to be up and at the starting line at 8:00am on Thanksgiving morning to run what is going to be my first ever official 10K.

Eeck. I think. Why do we do these things to ourselves? Whose idea was this anyway? Wait. I believe it was mine. I’m in! I texted to the world and FB when I registered for the Turkey Trot 10K all those months ago. I’m in, I say. And here we are. The 10k a mere 3 days away. The weather looks good. Sunny and 48 degrees. So why do I feel so…

What is it about the Holidays, that stirs us so? Is it the memories of Holidays past? Or the expectations of Holidays to come? Maybe it’s both. I think my Holiday OCD is officially kicking in.

This year I will not be spending the Holiday with family, but will be part of a potluck dinner hosted by dear friends. It has been a long time since not spending Thanksgiving with family. Hard to remember the last time this happened. There are parts of me that feel sad about this, but parts of me that feel happy too. Sad to not be able to catch up with family, happy to have the time with friends. Thanksgiving is about being grateful for what we have. Not what we do not have. I am grateful to have more than one warm and welcoming home within which to spend the holiday. I’m grateful to be a part of so many beautiful lives.

I am grateful this is the soft silhouette that greets me at the beginning and end of every day.