I am grateful today as my father walked a mile without his walker, coming six weeks after back surgery

My dad, an old coach, showed his pedigree and good health today.

Beautiful prose of thanks giving, from 1936

Time out of mind at this turn of the seasons when the hardy oak leaves rustle in the wind and the frost gives a tang to the air and the dusk falls early and the friendly evenings lengthen under the heel of Orion, it has seemed good to our people to join together in praising the Creator and Preserver, who has brought us by a way that we did not know to the end of another year.

In observance of this custom, I appoint Thursday, the twenty-sixth of November, as a day of Public Thanksgiving for the blessings that have been our common lot and have placed our beloved State with the favored regions of earth -- for all the creature comforts:

the yield of the soil that has fed us and the richer yield from labor of every kind that has sustained our lives -- and for all those things, as dear as breath to the body, that quicken man's faith in his manhood, that nourish and strengthen his spirit to do the great work still before him: for the brotherly word and act; for honor held above price; for steadfast courage and zeal in the long, long search after truth; for liberty and for justice freely granted by each to his fellow and so as freely enjoyed; and for the crowning glory and mercy of peace upon our land; -- that we may humbly take heart of these blessings as we gather once again with solemn and festive rites to keep our Harvest Home.

--Wilbur Cross

via Daily Dish

Giving thanks on this special day

About nine years ago, I was thoroughly depressed and angry after my start-up companies failed and I was left with nothing financially, in spite of my efforts. In order to help heal myself and get through those times, I started saying a prayer of thanks for three things at the end of every day. Gratitude works from my experience. Since today is all about giving thanks, I am going to up the ante, giving three times my normal thanks. So here goes:

1. Thankful to be alive and embodied as a human being, capable of giving and receiving love, and being a powerful being who is capable of co-creating this "movie" of life as I go along.
2. Thankful for the people in my life for unconditionally seeing and accepting me, including my family (including Jason), long-time friends, and new/renewed friends like Phil, Barry, Richard, ChangFu,and Mut. These beings make all the difference.
3. Thankful to the wonderful new women in my life and the special projects we are working on together.
4. Thankful for my spiritual practice, teachers, fellow students and Zen Buddhist tradition.
5. Thankful for being healthy, strong, and being physically vital in this garden of earthly delights
6. Thankful for the meaningful work I do in being of use to others and doing this with a wonderful and high-minded business partner.
7. Thankful for all the love I inherited from my ancestors who had the generosity and courage to love me completely.
8. Thankful for having a President who believes in the power of love and the dignity of all people, despite his human errors and mistakes.
9. Thankful for San Francisco, my home, and for dark chocolate and the daily grace and pleasure it brings to my life.

Today's gratitude list and select Kauai photos

Here are a few things that I experienced today that I am grateful for:
1. Setting out under a perfect crescent moon at 5:45AM to drive to the other side of Kauai, to begin a catamaran cruise
2. Snorkeling in the warm Pacific waters with plenty of colorful fish
3. Racing a squad of friendly and curious Spinner dolphins with our catamaran.
4. Eating a delicious Kauai island cookie that includes brown sugar, coconut, macadamia nuts, chocolate chips, and organic everything,
5. Enjoying the epic views of the Napali Coastline (think Jurassic Park)
6. Viewing emails from my friends back home and thinking about them.
7. Reading the well-written and compelling book "Born to Run," about a lost tribe of Mexican Indians who are known for running fast over ultra-long distances.
8. Having dinner with two local gay guys and having one of the most mind-blowing spiritual conversation I have had in a long time.

Some select photos from today: