The Year of the Thank You

I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. 
~G.K. Chesterton

It is a new year folks!  That means it is time for a fresh start and new ideas.  My blog for the last year was absolutely wonderful and opened my eyes in so many different ways - teaching me how to truly let God's light shine through me and helping others, surprising people with random acts of kindness and opening up my head and my heart through writing. 

This new year is going to be the year of the "Thank You."  I am changing the focus of my blog; however, it will still occur on Mondays and will still remain titled "Starfish Mondays."
Each Monday, I am going to write an old-fashioned thank you note.  Not a quick email or a facebook wall post or a a text.  A real, thank you card that is put in the mail with a stamp and everything.

When I was a young girl thank you cards were important in my home.  My mom would have me sit at the ktichen counter and first write my thoughts on a notecard and put those thoughts into sentence form and then, very carefully, with a ruler so my lines would be straight, I would write my thank you note (in pencil first in case there were mistakes, then I would write over it in ink). As you can imageine,this was a very painstaking process.  But it was all worth it in the end, when I licked that envelope closed and stuck it in the mail box.

Now, I am not trying to "bring back the old days" when people actually sent things through the mail.  But how wonderful when you get the mail for the day and all you see is junk, bill, junk, junk, bill, AHHH A HANDWRITTEN CARD!!, junk junk junk?  And then you open the card and someone has actually taken the time to write thoughtful words to YOU. 

So, keeping the idea of the Starfish (see below for a refresher on the Starfish Story), each card I send each week will make a difference for that one person who receives it.  I am excited for this new year and the new focus on my blog.  As always, if you (my loyal readers) have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact me!

The Starfish Story

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, "What are you doing?"
The youth replied, "Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back, they'll die."

"Son," the man said, "Don't you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can't make a difference!"

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said
"I made a difference for that one."

Today's Starfish

First of all, I know this is Tuesday but I have been sick with the flu and I couldn't wait til next week to start my new adventures!

My first Thank You Starfish of the new year is being sent to Diane at LensCrafters.  I got new glasses recently and she was a tremondous help to me when choosing my frames and lenses!