It's Thanksgivvekuh! (well, it WAS anyways)

Well the Xmas season is officially upon us. Xmas trees are being sold on the street (we're in NYC, we don't have tree farms here), invitations to holiday parties are piling up (cuz I'm cool like that) and the non stop present buying is starting.

This week in the spirit of Thanksgiving and Xmas, I figured it'd be fitting to talk about gratitude. I know, I know, enough already! It's so cliche. Everyone effing talks about gratitude.

But sorry to burst your bubble here, they (we) all talk about gratitude because it really IS the attitude. Without being grateful for the things you already have, you can never be grateful for the things you are trying to obtain (like that new pair of shoes, or that vacation, or love, or that job).

If you're not grateful for where you are RIGHT NOW (single, living with your parents, talking to your pet turtle, eating ramen noodles on a Friday night while pining over Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights) then you won't be happy when you get to your desired place. (new house, successful business, on a date with Tim Riggins-what...it could happen!) Because you'll be thinking about the NEXT thing that will supposedly make you happy (a date with Johnny Depp). All we have is right now. Those ramen noodles are everything.

"Out there" and "someday" don't exist. Happiness is a choice and it starts with being grateful for what you have right now in this moment. So, I'm going to share my list with you here.

1. My health -something we take for granted so often. Until we are sick. I'm not waiting for that:) 2. My family- love em or hate em. They always have our back. 3. My friends- there are no words for how lucky I feel to have accrued such an amazing collective of friends. Inspiring, loving, supportive...I feel so lucky to have found them! 4.my talent- it took a while to get here (it's the tortured artist thing I guess) but I am so thankful for songwriting and playing music. It has brought out my true self 5. My passion- connected to no.4. I just dont know what I'd be doing if I didn't feel so passionate about music and people and connection. 6.my body that runs, dances, and stretches 7. Living in Brooklyn 8. My job that allows me to follow my passion (and eat and buy presents) 9. My curiosity and willingness to learn 10. The process I am in. Right now. I may not know where I'll end up but I'm so thankful for the opportunity to get there.

And last but not least YOU! Yes YOU, who is reading this right now. It's no secret that following your passion, no matter what it is, is hard as shit! And your being here, reading this, cheering me on as I write a song a week, as I stumble, as I record, as I figure out my next moves and follow my passion, is honestly what keeps me going.

I hope that somehow my journey inspires you to follow your passion. (Enter quote here)

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive" - Howard Thurman

So there you have it. My top 11 list:)

What about you? Do you make it a point to count your blessings? To be grateful for the process you're in, right now? Even when it's bad, (or especially when it's bad), there is an opportunity to learn and to grow.

I know it sounds annoying, (especially when you're in that no so great place) but even then we all have SOME thing if not many things to be grateful for. Even the seemingly small things. Or maybe ESPECIALLY the small things.

Start small. Go from there.

(this message has been sponsored by father Xmas.)

Love, D