In just a few days, I'll be hitting the road with my Dear Husband, who once a year makes the Minnesota pilgrimage so that we can spend the weekend after Thanksgiving with my family. (Thanksgiving... pilgrimage... get it?) Of all that I cherish, my family's love feels most precious, and so with this edition of Michigan Women's Forum, I'm putting gratitude front and center.

  Start with a special Thanksgiving POCKET OF PEACE from dear friend Jan Lundy, who gifts us with a practice that shows how an "attitude of gratitude" can start from the moment we open our eyes each morning. Remember that you can go back to Jan's "Pocket of Peace" any time you need a respite during this busy holiday season.

   Barbara Marynowski is back with another INSPIRED essay, this time about her great-grandmother who is... well, I'll let Barb tell you about this remarkable woman and her secret to happiness. And in LIVE WELL, the coaches at ReclaimU share a Thanksgiving Secret about gratitude that will inspire you.

   With this issue, I'm introducing my blog PIECE OF MIND and sharing how a strategy of gratitude might help you through the holidays, in the wake of our recent campaign season. I've also compiled a list of links to my favorite holiday charities. Feel free to e-mail me with information about yours, and I'll post them on our SHARING page.

   On the newsier side, learn how and why three experts who appeared at a recent Inforum event disagreed over turning around our nation's sagging economy in BIZ, and check out new items posted on our calendar in NETWORK.

   Feel free to spread the word about Michigan Women's Forum - you can find and follow us now on TWITTER and FACEBOOK where we love making new friends!

--Joni Hubred-Golden
Publisher, Michigan Women's Forum