I was looking for a notebook I kept thoughts, ideas and doodles over a decade ago. I remember writing lists of things I was grateful for and thought it might be fun looking at them before Thanksgiving tomorrow. I still haven't found it but I did find a journal I kept for a few years when I first moved to Arizona. Flipping through it I ran across this passage.

April 14, 2001

I bought a guitar today. It's a cheap one but it'll do fine. Playing's been sort of like riding a bike. It's all coming back to me. It's a good feeling.

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately with the holiday approaching. Of course I'm grateful for the big stuff: loved ones, roof over head, food in my belly, job doing something I love, etc. But what really stands out to me are the little things that punctuate my day-to-day life that make me smile, laugh or touch me. The morning sky. The taste of root beer. Seeing a little old lady in the grocery store smile. Laughter. Even having a cheap, blue guitar to play, just because it feels good.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow. Or just a great Thursday, depending on where you live.