Merci Sign at Hotel Thoumieux

Such a beautiful 'merci' sign at Hôtel Thoumieux in Paris (via Garance Dore's blog), don't you think?

Thankful Wednesday?

What an awesome day has been sent my way today!

First, it was supposed to be the day when I officially 'acknowledged' my dear Caitlin's tribute post where I was honored to have been mentioned, and mentioned in such an incredibly heartwarming way. Caitie wrote it long ago, and I'm still wondering just how come I missed THIS (there are photos there as well, come take a look):

“ ...Late in 2009, I stumbled upon a Blog written by a Russian girl. I was instantly attracted to The Thank You Project as the author, Julia, had embarked on a journey to find something to be thankful for every day for a year. I seriously couldn't get enough of her posts - she made me think differently about my world.  

That was then and here we are today almost 2 years later and we still have blog interactions regularly. When she was podcast on an Australian radio channel due to her drive to 'be thankful', I poured a glass of Pinot Noir and listened to it on my computer. I value what she has to say. ”

Next thing I know, I come home in the evening and find even more beauty and kindness awaiting me! First it's the lovely feature on the Fanx' Blog by Mitch and then it's a sweet tweet from a fellow thankful person and a new follower Laura Faulkner of ThankfulForThisDay website. 

Definitely an incredible stuff to come home to. Thank you all so much, you truly made my day!..

New Thankful Survey!

The new Thankful Survey is here! All of your requests and suggestions have been factored in and helped enhance and improve the new survey, so I can't wait to hear what you think and can't wait for the first results to come in!..

The survey can be accessed at any time via the 'Survey' tab on top of the blog and right now following this link. This time you can also easily access it via a special tab on TTYP's Facebook page, if you wish.

I really enjoyed seeing and analyzing the results of the first Thankful Survey, and I have a feeling the new one is going to be even more insightful. So bring it on, let's survey!..

Image via 

Thankful Jewelry

Another way to practice gratitude might be via wearing 'thankful' jewelry, that can serve as a great reminder of life's blessings. I've been thinking of getting something thankfully special that would be very me, and while I am still searching and contemplating here are some of my finds on Etsy:

• Practice Gratitude Loopy Necklace by Lisa Hopkins ($78.00)
• Hand Stamped 'Thankful' Cuff by Always A Memory ($16.00)
• 'Be Thankful' Hand Stamped Bracelet in Nickel Silver by Maja Jewelry ($22.00)
• 'I am Grateful for Sunflowers' Hand Stamped Necklace by Dream Acre Designs ($34.00)
  
• 'Thankful' Two Finger Banner Ring by MerCurios ($40.00)

Would you wear something like this to show your gratitude?

Food for Thought, Thanks to Friedrich Nietzsche

Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical work, La Gaya Scienza, has one powerful piece (341: The Greatest Weight) that really makes you think - you just instantly want to pause for a moment and look at your life from a very different angle. I can also see a strong connection to the gratitude theory here. What do you think, do you see it too?

“ What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you in your loneliest loneliness 
and say to you: 
"This life as you now live it and have lived it, 
you will have to live once more and innumerable times more; 
and there will be nothing new in it, 
but every pain and every joy and every thought and sigh 
and everything unutterably small or great in your life will have to return to you, 
all in the same succession and sequence — even this spider 
and this moonlight between the trees, 
and even this moment and I myself. 
The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down 
again and again — and you with it, speck of dust!" 
Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? 
Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him:
"You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine!" 
If this thought gained possession of you, 
it would change you as you are or perhaps crush you; 
the question in each and every thing, 
"Do you desire this once more, and innumerable times more?" 
would lie upon your actions as the greatest weight! 
Or how well disposed would you have to become to yourself and to life 
to crave nothing more fervently than this ultimate eternal confirmation and seal? ”

Fall's Gift

Moscow, thank you for the gift of two perfect spring days in the midst of fall, when even an early Saturday morning blood test on an empty stomach is a joy. What's it like there where you are?

P.S. Our current temperatures in Celsius on the left and Fahrenheit on the right.

Suggestion: Take the Time to Appreciate Your Pet Today

Our pets are always happy to see us and love us no matter what, maybe this is why it's so easy to take this appreciation for granted. I suggest we all pay it forward immediately and take the time today to appreciate our dogs, cats, fish or what have we! Even simply watching your pet sleep, or watch it watch you, just looking at it and admiring it is guaranteed to fill your heart with love and gratitude - at least I know it works for me!.. 

And as I realize now I don't know how many of you actually have pets, and whether most of you are cat or dog lovers, I'd appreciate it if you introduced the animals in your life to our thankful community!

Video by Matt Wiebe