It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving and, I’m staying far, far away from the maddening mall crowds.

Instead, I’m sitting at my kitchen table, ruminating about perspective and priorities. And gratitude.

It’s been a hellacious few weeks here in Thousand Oaks. In a single week: the mid-term elections on Tuesday, a mass shooting in our safe little community on Wednesday, and devastating wildfires starting on Thursday that are still not completely contained. It gives me a whole new appreciation for what’s important.

My husband sent up his drone yesterday for a look at the hillside near our home. From street level, I’d seen how the brush had burned down to Erbes Road, just a block away from us. But this perspective – from on high – shows how fortunate we are to have come through unscathed:

The view from 1,000 ft over our still-standing house. With wind gusts of up to 70 mph – it could have been a very different ending.

By contrast, a friend lost her home in Malibu, and returned some days later to find this in her front yard:

Calm amidst the chaos.

I got an email yesterday from a long-time, loyal customer:

“I am full of gratitude for the influence and impact you have had on Sharon and me in the last 14 years.  As you know, I never thought for a minute that it was possible.  You pulled us through a door into a whole new world of experiences and memories.  For that, I will be forever grateful.”

Wow . . .

I’m leaving tomorrow night for Patagonia. I’m leading 28 people who have entrusted me to take them (almost) to the end of the world. They’ll come home with unforgettable moments.

To know that I’ll have had a part in creating memories for these 28 – and for hundreds of other travelers through the years – for that, I am truly grateful.

At the end of it all – when our days are done (however many days we’ve lived) – all we have is our memories. So – whatever you do – make some good ones!!!

Comments …. ?

What kind of memories have you made lately??