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Giving Thanks to Jan

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes, 16 seconds
Jan Peace

November 25, 2021

My two favorite holiday memories are the first and last Thanksgiving with Jan. I was alone before I met Jan, and I am alone again. The first time was easier to manage, and today will be my first Thanksgiving without her.

This year, I could have gone with Mike and Elyssa for Thanksgiving, and I even had other offers to make a place at the table for me. 

I chose not to go anywhere for Thanksgiving, not because I would not have enjoyed myself, but because I will be volunteering to help the homeless on Thursday and Friday with Bridges Outreach.

In my heart, I felt it was what Jan would want me to do this year, and I knew It was what I needed to do. Both Jan and I spent our lives working to repair the world.

Volunteering with Bridges allowed me to help others and partially repay all the support and love I have received since Jan died. In a future Thanksgiving, I may choose to break bread with family and friends.

But this year, it needs to be about giving to others, as it is the best way today for me to share Jan’s love. 

May you all be blessed with a healthy and happy Thanksgiving!

Love never dies; it only grows stronger.

Authors Note: I may update this post or stream with details about my volunteer work.

You might enjoy reading Will you marry me?

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Seduction Theory

Read: September 2025

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Seduction Theory

by Emily Adrian

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Discover your next favorite book and dive into a world of curated, exciting reads by purchasing through my links. You’ll have access to a diverse selection of books that I’ve personally vetted to ensure quality and enjoyment. Additionally, by supporting these selections, you’ll help me continue to provide you with more personalized recommendations. I earn a small commission from your purchase, which allows me to buy and share even more books with you. Your support truly makes a difference!

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Grief Is the Thing with Feathers

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Read: January 2023

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by Quan Barry

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I found several quotes that I have used in other posts already.

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I plan to use others in future posts.

Love never dies, and this quote echoed my belief.

“Love is neither created nor destroyed. It exists at all times and in all dimensions. Love is not something we create—it is something that wells up in us, like sap in a tree. It is an element in the fabric of the universe. Even on that distant day when sentient beings no longer exist, Love carries on. Perhaps our personal relationship to Love is impermanent, but Love itself is not.”

I highly recommend When I’m Gone, Look for Me in the East.

The Goodreads summary provides an overview,

Tasked with finding the reincarnation of a great lama somewhere in the vast Mongolian landscape, the young monk Chuluun seeks the help of his identical twin, Mun, who was recognized as a reincarnation himself as a child but has since renounced their once shared monastic life.

Harking back to her vivid and magical first novel set in Vietnam, Quan Barry carries us across a landscape as unforgiving as it is beautiful and culturally varied, from the stark Gobi Desert to the ancient capital of Chinggis Khan. As their country stretches before them, questions of the immortal soul, along with more earthly matters of love, sex, and brotherhood, haunt the twins, who can hear each other’s thoughts.

The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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The Jan Lilien Education Fund sponsors ongoing sustainability and environmental awareness programs. Gifts made this month; I will match dollar-for-dollar. All donations are tax-deductible.

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