Happy Thanksgiving!

We here at Planet Jackson are taking the day off to be with our families. We wish you and yours a happy, healthy, safe holiday. This year has been a rollercoaster year for me. I uprooted my family to move several states away, underwent a career change, started this blog and witnessed two of my closest friends pass away suddenly several months apart. In between their passing, I had to suffer the untimely death of my absolute favorite artist, Michael Jackson. If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I love the Jacksons--Michael, Janet, and the Jackson 5. Michael's death shook me to the core even moreso than the passing of people who I saw on a daily basis; I am still in mourning.

It might seem like I am listing a lot of negative things here, but I see them as positives. Each challenge I have faced, especially the passing of my friends, has taught me not to take anything for granted. I am thankful for even the smallest of pleasures: the sound of my children's laughter, the taste of a good meal, the sound of the rain, the sunshine on my face, the fragrance of a flower, each moment I have to spend with friends and family. I take time to see and to savor now. I tell everyone who is special to me how much I love them. I know now, each time might be the last. I take each day at a time. Most of all, I have come to realize what is important to me and which things are not worth worrying about. I have reaffirmed my true gratitude for everything life has to offer. Today, as you sit down with your loved ones (even if that just means you and your pets or houseplants), what are you thankful for?