Mary Pierce

TODAY’S LAUGH: I’ve had it with the Thanksgiving schmaltz, the endless sappy reminders on TV and in emails about how grateful we all should be. So how about this year, instead of GIVING thanks, we focus on GETTING thanks? Wouldn’t that be a twist? How about getting a little gratitude from the kids? “Thanks, Mom and Dad, for not having me arrested…after that one time…” Or maybe a thank you from the spouse? “Thanks for putting up with my…well, you know…” (Oh yes, we know. We have a list.)

Or perhaps a thank you from the boss? “Thanks for showing up almost every day to do a so-so job while demanding that I pay you far more than you’re worth…”

Okay, so maybe Thanksgetting isn’t such a good idea.

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: Maybe it is better to give thanks than to worry about receiving thanks. So here goes: Thanks, kids, for being the amazing people you are. Thanks to Da Husband for showing up every day to be my husband and a father to our clan. Thanks to Da Mama, who will be 94 on November 24th, for still being here. Thanks to all the family, friends and readers–teachers all–who encourage me. Thanks to all who make personal sacrifices every day to make this world a safer, better place.

And I’ll add a whispered, Thank you, God, for life and breath, and for another chance to make my part of this world a little brighter today.

Okay, now I’m feeling a little sappy… Thanks to you for reading this. Now go thank someone for blessing your life.

And have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

TODAY’S LAUGH: I headed out Monday morning at 6:15, due at the local TV station by 6:30 for an interview plugging my new book at 6:45 a.m. By 6:48 it was over. My three minutes of fame. Done.

Did I sell any books? Maybe it would have been better to have Billy Mays screaming, “YOU WON’T BELIEVE THE RESULTS! YOUR LIFE WILL BE UNTWISTED IN THREE MINUTES FLAT! YOU’LL BE AMAZED AT HOW SMALL YOUR PROBLEMS WILL FEEL ONCE THEY ARE VACUUM PACKED IN THIS TEENY TINY BAG…” Oops. Wrong infomercial.

Fame is fleeting. Even ol’ Billy’s fame. The folks at the station were not the same folks who were there two years ago when I was plugging book #2. And two years before that, the crew was different. (Okay, so I’ve had nine total minutes of fame.)

TODAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT: What matters most is what lasts in this life. Faith. Family. Friendships. The connections we make with fellow travelers. Take time today to connect, to turn away from the transitory things and give thanks for the things that matter most. Enjoy that baby’s smile, that friend’s hug, that loved one’s laughter. Be a blessing to someone else.

“As Seen on TV”? Nope.

As Seen in Real Life. Much, much better.