As I sit here in front of this screen, contemplating what I should write about this week, a wave of gratefulness is pouring over me. I looked out the window, and the fall leaves are scattered everywhere, damp and shiny from the rain, the birds are trading off their positions at the feeder, juggling for their share of the seeds, and the view as far as I can see is made up of strange and alluring cloud formations.

My world is magnificent: people come from other states and countries to see this, to drink our wines, taste our foods, bicycle on our roads and explore our parks and beaches, and I am right here in the midst of this paradise. I have the gift of freedom as a person, and as a woman. I have education, intelligence and humor and the ability to pick myself up and move on when things have gotten bad. I have very little money in comparison to others and am struggling in that realm right now, but I have a vast fortune compared to millions on this planet. What a miracle to have a life like this.

Now if I were religious I might thank God, and although I do believe there is something beyond my knowing, I also know that I am in charge of manifesting what happens in my life.  I was born into a time, a place and of parents which gave me the initial gifts, and these I cherish and do thank whatever higher power decided I was worthy. But the directions I am choosing, and the person I am becoming along the way is up to me.

You may say, well what if you got seriously ill: did you manifest that? Perhaps in the sense that I chose to continue drinking out of that plastic bottle when I was told it was potentially cancerous, or eat that food that I knew could be bad, or whatever. I cannot say whether I directly cause each and every thing which happens to me, but perhaps indirectly I do. When it comes to our tastes, addictions, etc. many of us do things on a daily basis which may ultimately cause us illness or worse, and we know it but just keep on doing it, don't we?

Everyday we are faced with dozens, if not hundreds of choices. Some of them we make automatically, but some we dwell on. When we're in the Starbucks line wrestling with ourselves about whether to buy that scone. When we're lying in bed in the morning trying to talk ourselves into getting up and going to gym. So many decisions, and we get to make them. Yes, GET to make them. How many millions of people in the world have little to no choices in their lives? You have a sea of them.

So when faced with choices about your health and your body why deliberately choose to gain weight , be less in shape or in any way decrease the remarkable gift you have been given of this potentially strong, healthy person? Maybe a mindset to carry with you is one of huge gratitude for what you have, and a desire to honor it and make it the best you can be. We're coming into the season of thanks-giving. What are you thankful for?

 1 serving protein
2 servings fruit
2 servings vegetable

1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1 1/2-inch-thick pieces 

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 

Pinch of cayenne pepper 

Salt and pepper to taste 

1/4 cup low-fat or non fat plain yogurt 

1/4 cup pomegranate seeds