Leading up to Thanksgiving, each day I will blog about what I’m doing to be more grateful. I invite you to join me in a Month of Thanksgiving, and to share your thoughts, observations, suggestions and ideas.
Day 24: Giving thanks for the simple pleasures in life

Many Thanksgiving dinners I’ve been part of have included everyone going around the table to share what they’re grateful for.
Typically the objects of gratitude include family, health and abundant food — which makes a lot of sense. If everyone at the table only gets time to name one item, you don’t want to look like an ass when you profess your love of your new red heels or fountain Coke at McDonald’s.
So today’s the day I’m celebrating simple pleasures, purposely giving thanks for silly little things that I’m really grateful for. Yes, I’m so deeply grateful for the love of my husband, for friends I can count on, my education, my job and for an upcoming trip home to visit family.
But today isn’t about the significant, profound concerns of life. Today is about my gratitude for:

• sleeping in on weekends
• the light in my closet, which lets me see deep into the corners even when John’s still asleep
• the big east-facing windows in my office, with the view of the Empire State Building and morning sunshine
• the smell of autumn leaves and wood fires
• the view of New York Harbor (including the Statue of Liberty) from the Brooklyn Promenade, just a few blocks from our apartment
• John balancing our checkbook and paying our bills, so I don’t have to
• having inherited my mom’s metabolism, so I can eat a lot and not get fat (though it’s admittedly slowing down as I get older. drat.)
• the frequency with which I see talented musicians on the street and the subway in New York
• that I’ve learned to love things I didn’t used to like, including asparagus, red wine and olives
• laughing until I snort

Making this list made me smile. In part because of the inherent silliness of pushing away the A-list sources of gratitude in favor of the small stuff, but also because I realized I could go on all day.
What are the simple pleasures that you’re grateful for?
And don’t forget to share the things you’re grateful for on Facebook, Twitter and your blog for a chance to win Month of Thanksgiving prizes. Read more details here.