Holidays can bring up a lot muck—especially in the expectations department.

For instance, I had a cozy picture in my head of my son driving up to Ojai from LA tonight and us waking up to coffee and conversation Thanksgiving morning.

(Reality check: with a 23-year old, it would have been way past noon and far more grunting than conversation.)

Then  my son told me he was exhausted and wasn’t going to come until lunchtime tomorrow.

I sweetly said “okay,” but was disappointed and annoyed.

And launched into my own mental tirade about how we never get any relaxed “bonding” time, how he only thinks of himself, how I wish my mother was alive and I could sit and sip coffee with her, blah-blah-blah.

Just as I was spiraling down the rabbit hole of resentment, I stopped.

I put my hand on my heart, took a deep breath and shifted my inner dialog to gratitude.

I chose to be thankful. That I have a son. That he’s healthy. That he lives close enough to drive. That he knows how to take care of himself. That’s he’s comfortable speaking his truth. That’s he’s going to get a good night’s sleep and drive in the daylight.

And I immediately felt lighter. And grateful to actually have a little more time to myself today.

It’s amazing how when we change our thoughts, everything else changes.

I hope you experience more thanks than angst tomorrow.

I wish you an absolutely magical Thanksgiving. And that everything will go as planned. Or even better:)

May you feast on delicious food and be nourished by precious moments with loved ones.

But since this is real life and not a Norman Rockwell painting, muck might happen.

If it does, remember to stop, breathe into your heart and give thanks for What Is.

By finding what’s right when things go wrong, we can transform muck into magic.

Thank you for you for being part of the magic in my life.

Your loving presence and supportive comments profoundly touch my heart. (Speaking of which, If you you’d like to add to this conversation, write something below.  I’d be so thankful to see you there).

With soaring gratitude,
xoWendi .