I Am Thankful

By guest blogger, Karen Lee Stevens

Though I've never been particularly attached to any specific holiday, Thanksgiving has long been one of my favorite days of the year. It is a time to focus on family and friends and to reflect upon our many blessings. It is also a time to give thanks for the animals in our lives.

I am perhaps most thankful for my work, for it is here that I find inspiration and fulfillment. Between writing professionally about animals and managing All for Animals, Inc., the organization I founded eight years ago, I have the opportunity every day to make a difference in the lives of animals in need.

I am thankful for the tireless efforts of the volunteers and staff at the myriad animal shelters and rescue groups in our community. It is they who give abandoned and abused animals' hope for a brighter tomorrow.

I am thankful for dogs' warm kisses and wet noses. I am thankful for their silly antics that make me laugh even when I'm having a bad day. I am thankful for their ability to find joy in the simplest pleasures--a tennis ball, a car ride, a belly rub. I am thankful for Guinness, my next-door neighbor's beagle. Her exuberance and endless delight at taking a walk with me never cease to bring a smile to my face.

I am thankful for the gentle grace and dignity of cats. Their serene presence and throaty purr can unravel even the tautest of nerves. I am thankful for my cat Cassidy. Even though he has long since passed away, our deep connection transcends time and his soulful presence still envelopes me. He was my muse, my teacher, my purr-fessor, if you will.

I am thankful for the sparrows that built a nest on my front porch and for the tiny bobbling heads that tentatively peek out at the sound of my voice. I am thankful for their cacophony of whistles and warbles outside my bedroom window every morning--they are nature's alarm clock.

I am thankful for the pods of dolphins that slice effortlessly through the surf and instill in me a sense of wonderment, of peace, of bliss.

I am thankful for the innocence of animals in a world that has become increasingly filled with uncertainty. Without animals to calm, to soothe, and to share love and affection, life would be infinitely more difficult. I am thankful for all the animals with whom we share the earth.

This Thanksgiving, please take a moment to give thanks for all the creatures that enrich your life and enhance your appreciation of nature.

[What animals are you thankful for this holiday season? Send your comments to: karen at allforanimals dot com]

Karen Lee Stevens is the pet columnist for the Montecito Journal, published biweekly in Montecito, and is the founder and Executive Director of AllforAnimals.com.

Karen is also a freelance writer and author of the book, "All for Animals: Tips and Inspiration for Living a More Compassionate Life," published by Fithian Press and a 2001 Cat Writers Association Certificate of Excellence winner!