The 300th Post!

Wow! Can you believe it? 300 posts in over 12 years! I missed celebrating the 100th and 200th posts, but the 300th is the charm!

Approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts and feelings turn to gratitude. You may recall that back in January I made the New Year's intention (I hate the term, "resolution") to keep a gratitude journal and every day list three things for which I'm grateful, no matter how big or small. Well, I've actually kept it up. Maybe I've combined a couple of days here and there, maybe I've listed more than three things on some days, but I've made a point of keeping it going.

Experts claim that reflecting and being grateful help rewire your brain to think more positively and, in turn, make you feel happier. I didn't think I would say this, but the experts are right--I do generally feel more content overall. Even my husband says I complain less these days! And flipping back through my gratitude journal, I'm amazed by how many things I have to be grateful about.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let me say that I am grateful that I've been able to write 300 posts for you to read and (hopefully) enjoy. I'm grateful to have been your perch librarian for over 14 years now (and counting). I'm grateful to have helped so many of you with your questions, a number of which have been interesting and some of which have kept me on my toes! And I'm grateful to have gotten to know so many of you along with your families--it's one of the highlights working at the perch.

Although we're living in uncertain and somewhat concerning times, there are still things for which to be grateful. And keep in mind that those things are often ordinary, everyday things that can be easily overlooked and taken for granted. Take a moment to stop, notice those things, and be grateful for them.

Wishing you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving from the perch.