Every November makes me realize how I need to be more intentionally thankful, but sometimes it is difficult to count all my blessings when I’m caught up in the busyness of life. However, if something is a priority, I need to carve out the time for it – what a person puts her focus into tends to grow. However, when I fall back into that familiar “there’s not enough time” excuse to avoid reflection, meditation, prayer or whatever you want to call it, I give myself a little kick in the butt. I have access to exactly the same number of hours per day that everyone else in the world does (including really awesome and inspirational people); I need to use them wisely.

This month, I am going to be purposefully “plankful.” I’ll set aside a mere 5 minutes per day to focus on my core strength, literally and figuratively.  Literally, holding the plank position (in all it’s different variations) creates a strong core Not only does planking work just about every muscle in your mid-section and arms, it also gives you some inescapable “alone time” with yourself – ahh, the perfect time to give thanks!

Figuratively, I see the plank pose as a life metaphor for gratitude and thanksgiving. If you’ve never planked, watching someone else hold the position looks so easy. So does observing someone live a life filled with gratitude. But, both are surprisingly challenging exercises –for me anyway. The good news is that, the more I practice, the better I know I’ll become at both!

If you’d like to join me, it’s easy. Just plank for a minute or two per day, you can even work up to several sets. Spend your time in the plank pose by reflecting on all the wonderful things life has given you and how, in turn, you can show gratitude to others. You can also be “plankful” with a friend; after all, who isn’t thankful for a good friend who has your back?!

Another thing to be thankful about this November – soups! Finally, it is cool enough to enjoy soup in Texas without melting into a big puddle. Soup totally fits my lifestyle – you can make it ahead of time, toss in the season’s bountiful produce, and it almost always tastes just as good (if not better) as leftovers!  Check out the 101 healthy soups from Cooking Light, there is a soup here for everyone and enough recipes to make a new soup every night for the next 3 ½ months!

I’m making Creamy Sweet Potato Soup, it was the star soup on the cover of Cooking Light this month! It looks delicious and I’m curious as to find out how it’s so creamy looking with a base of mainly chicken stock – sounds healthy and I’m always looking for a new way to use those nutritious sweet potatoes!

I’ve posted this one before, but I have a really yummy recipe for Loaded-but-Lite Baked Potato Soup (below) that is a real winner with everyone in the family. It’s hearty, healthy and perfect for those nights when it’s a bit chilly!