For the past month, stores have been decked out in candy canes and snowmen, holiday shopping has been in full-force, and I've already received a dozen Christmas cards in the mail. I get it...I'm a big proponent of being prepared and getting things done early.

Still, I feel Thanksgiving deserves a little more focus that a table full of food followed by football. Here are 25 things I love about Thanksgiving, in no particular order.

1. Planning the event: Trying out a new recipe, deciding how to decorate the table, and coming up with possible new traditions, is nearly as fun for me as Turkey Day itself.

2. Family-time: I'm a fan of anything that promotes together-ness.

3. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: The excitement, the dialog, the floats, the marching bands, the music...even the commercials in between... I love everything about it.

4. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: We watch it every year right on Thanksgiving.

5. No school in session: I love having my daughter, Amanda, home from school. She has been working so hard, and it's nice seeing her being able to relax.

6. Saying 'what we're thankful for' out loud: It's heartwarming, and funny sometimes, hearing what's on everyone's list.

7. Dressed up foods: A plain salad may include cranberries and feta. A bowl of corn niblets may take the form of corn casserole. Thanksgiving is the perfect reason to kick-it-up-a-notch.

8. Football (it's always more exciting on Thanksgiving)...and even if you hate football, the adorable pooches on the National Dog Show are a great back-up plan.

9. No gift-buying necessary. Enough said.

10. A family movie: After dinner, when company has left, our family watches a movie, cuddled up on the sofa.

11. Inclusiveness: I love that Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday, which means everyone can celebrate. Even if you're in a country that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving per se, anyone can celebrate appreciation and gratitude.

12. Fresh air after Thanksgiving dinner: We'll almost always step outside after the big meal. Sometimes, we even go for a walk.

13. Warm Thanksgiving colors: Deep brown, pumpkin orange, mustard yellow, and cranberry red...ahhhhhh.

14. Pie: Pumpkin or apple please...and maybe a second slice.

15. No need to dress up: A comfy pair of pants and a nice sweater work beautifully.

16. It has history: This holiday has been celebrated for years, dating back to a celebration of gratitude in 1621 when settlers held a harvest feast.

17. Traditions old and new: My family enjoys incorporating old traditions (we always decorate our Christmas tree later on Thanksgiving Day) to new traditions (this year, we're going to end our Thanksgiving meal with a favorite quote.)

18. The weather: It's rare to expect a snow storm on Thanksgiving where we live in Wisconsin, but anything is possible. It's a surprise every year.

19. Acts as a blessing reminder: Yes, we should be grateful every day, but the day itself is a good reminder to count our blessings.

20. It's a new beginning: Thanksgiving is the very beginning of the Christmas season. If offers us a fresh slate to make the days ahead the best they can be.

21. A reason to do something for someone else: Always in the back of my mind is that not everyone feels the same way about Thanksgiving for one reason or another, so my family plans something nice for someone every Thanksgiving season...ranging from volunteering, to inviting a friend over who may be celebrating alone, to putting together a care package for oversees troops, to sending a gift to someone who can't travel that day.

22. Family photos: Thanksgiving is a great day to take family photos to add to scrapbooks or albums and/or to look at old photos as well.

23. The smells of Thanksgiving: I adore being surrounded by delightful smells of Thanksgiving like, sage, thyme, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice.

24. Getting a Thanksgiving card: They arrive in nowhere near the volume of Christmas cards, but when one or two arrive, they always bring joy.

25. Knowing there will be no cooking for a few days: Having Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge is such a nice thought.

As a final note... may you and your family have a beautiful, peaceful, organized Thanksgiving. I am so grateful and blessed to have you as a loyal reader and for allowing me to share every day with you. These are not just words, but rather genuine gratitude. And whenever I hear from you...whether it is an idea, a question, or a story you want to share, it makes my heart happy. This is a journey we're all in together...and I'm delighted to be taking it with you!

With appreciation, gratitude, and love,

Maria

To fast-forward to getting organized today, visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-ifo.html

Do you feel like, no matter what you do, you can't seem to get organized?

Perhaps your clutter is always getting ahead of you, or your TO DO list is a mile long. Maybe you can't keep up with your tasks, or your paperwork is out of control, or your email has become overwhelming. Perhaps you just can't figure out where to store things. Maybe you find yourself procrastinating, or having trouble prioritizing.

No matter what your organizing challenges are, they are all causing UNHAPPINESS, STRESS, EXHAUSTION, OVERWHELM, and FRUSTRATION...and those are five things you definitely don't need in your life.

If you've been struggling to get yourself and your home organized, It's NOT YOUR fault. There are huge, little-known, obstacles that are preventing millions of people, like you, from getting quickly and permanently organized.

The nice thing is, I have the perfect solution for any organizing challenge you're dealing with, and it will help you get permanently and automatically organized.

It's called my 'I'm Finally Organized Toolkit' and it includes literally EVERYTHING you need to get organized now! Learn more here:

getorganizednow.com/rd-ifo.html

I know you want to get started on your organizing journey, and I'm excited to help you begin as quickly as possible. In light of this, when you get your hands on my I'm Finally Organized Toolkit BEFORE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd, 11:59 PM, you'll get a whole bunch of amazing, COMPLIMENTARY BONUSES...

* What You Need to Know to Become Super Organized

* Hilarious Versus Smart Clutter Tips

* Get Organized Now! Favorite Reader Tips

* 365 Words of Wisdom to Motivate and Inspire You

* 50 Super Cool Ways to Organize Your Home and Your Life

Begin getting organized today. It's one of the most wonderful things you can do for yourself...it guarantees an easier, happier, more joyful life! Visit:

getorganizednow.com/rd-ifo.html

GON Organizing Men: Men: Is your 'Honey Do List' long? Make life easy on yourself and get `er done! Here's how...
getorganizednow.com/organizing-men-honey-do.html



GON Dirty Little Secret: Don't just walk in a room and start cleaning. Do this first...

getorganizednow.com/dirty-little-secret-logical-cleaning.html


In ADDITION, on my home page, you'll also find lots of NEW and featured STUFF including...

* Thanksgiving: That's the theme of the two quotes on my home page this week. Check them out, be inspired, and focus this 'word of the week' on yourself

* GON November Monthly Checklist: Are you keeping up this month?

* GON November Mini Challenges: Get your challenge done for Week 3 and see what's ahead

* Social Media Feature: Hosting Thanksgiving this year? Here's a planning checklist so you find yourself ahead of the game

Access all of the above on my home page. Visit:
getorganizednow.com

'Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.'
-- Melody Beattie





I'd love to hear from you.
Comments, suggestions, or just to say hello. Just REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...Being organized creates a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
Get Organized Now!

getorganizednow.com

(c) Copyright 2018 by Maria Gracia, Get Organized Now!

* Copyright, contact and reprint information:
getorganizednow.com/contact.html

* You signed up to receive our Idea-Kit and/or our Newsletter at our Get Organized Now! Web site. We never add names unless you have voluntarily opted in.

* We never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone. You'll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger as a result of joining this list.

* If you happen to purchase anything I recommend in this or any of my communications, its likely I'll receive some kind of affiliate compensation. Still, I only recommend stuff that I truly believe in and share with my friends and family. If you ever have an issue with anything I recommend please let me know. I want to make sure I am always serving you at the highest level.

* To subscribe, visit:
getorganizednow.com/free-ezine.html




* To unsubscribe, if you absolutely must go, please click the link below. However . . .

YIKES! - If you unsubscribe, you'll lose all the complimentary organizing resources I share with my loyal readers each week. You'll lose the Weekly Tips, Reader Tips, Reader Clinics, complimentary videos, ebooks, resource recommendations, and the many valuable bonuses I offer each month (some totaling hundreds of dollars). Please don't go. I love sending you all of this free training. I'd be lost and lonely without you. If there is something more you would like from my newsletters, then please reply to this email and let me know.
-- Maria Gracia