So often when we talk about Thanksgiving, the predominant themes are food, family, and yes, football. These are wonderful things (well, maybe not football—but to each his own), and sharing them with loved ones makes this day extra special. What can get lost in the gravy, so to speak, is the “thanks” in Thanksgiving. Especially now, with so much turmoil in the world, thinking about or expressing gratitude can feel really hard.
I want to remind readers that there is always something to be grateful for. And I need this reminder, too, because it’s too easy to get trapped in the negative and forget to acknowledge the positive. Too many times I wonder, is the world going to be okay? Yet, I’m pretty sure every society throughout time has wondered the very same thing. Being a human isn’t easy—no matter the century.
Back to gratitude. What keeps me grounded is to remind myself about the good things in my life. Some of the things are big, like my very happy marriage (almost 30 years!) and connecting with family; some are small, like finding an acorn on the ground or receiving an unexpected head butt from one of my cat boys. The point is that giving thanks doesn’t have to be limited to Thanksgiving—find joy and gratitude (big or small) whenever, wherever you can.
- The Gratitude Prescription: Harnessing the Power of Thankfulness for Healing and Happiness by Will Pye.
- The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler.
- Please, Sorry, Thanks: The Three Words That Change Everything by Mark Batterson.
- The Power of Thank You: Discover the Joy of Gratitude by Joyce Meyer.
- A Spoonful of Gratitude: Tips to Reduce Stress and Enjoy Life to the Fullest by Najma Khorrami.
- Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted by Kristi Nelson.
New at the Library
Fiction
- Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.
- Lost & Hound by Rita Mae Brown.
- Touched by Walter Mosley.
Nonfiction
- A Memoir of My Former Self: A Life in Writing by Hilary Mantel.
- Quick Functional Exercises for Seniors: 50 Exercises to Optimize Your Health by Cody Sipe.
- Scarcity Brain: Fix Your Craving Mindset and Rewire Your Habits to Thrive with Enough by Michael Easter.
Children
- Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat written by Tracy C. Gold, illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff.
- Spy School Goes North: A Spy School Novel by Stuart Gibbs.
- Tired Town written by Patricia Marx, illustrated by Roz Chast.
This is just a small sampling of the many new titles added each week to the Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries collection. Find more in our catalog, or call 360-906-5000 to reserve titles or find additional listings.
Jan Johnston, Collection Manager
Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries
You can email Jan at readingforfun@fvrl.org
