Gratitude: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
As 2020 comes to a close, I have been thinking about my intention for 2021. The word that comes to mind is gratitude. This year has been tough, really tough. This year has brought challenges that I never knew existed. This year has taught me things that I didn't know I needed to learn. This year has taught me to appreciate things that I have taken for granted. Most of all, this year has taught me to be thankful. As I head into the new year, I am going to try my best to practice gratitude each day.
A few ways to practice gratitude include:
- Keep a Gratitude Journal
- Share Gratitude with Others
- Respect and Appreciate Your Body
- Smile More
- Say Thank You
Something that I am especially thankful for are family traditions. For as long as I can remember, my dad has cooked a big pot of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. Consuming black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is a southern tradition that is thought to bring prosperity, blessings, and positivity throughout the new year. Not to mention black-eyed peas are a great source of potassium, iron, fiber, and protein!

Recipe:
Ingredients:
½ cup of chopped celery
½ diced green bell pepper
2 lbs. frozen black-eyed peas
½ stick butter
1 tsp. black pepper
3 tsp. season all
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
¾ tsp. cumin
¾ tsp. garlic powder
salt to taste
Instructions:
- Pour frozen peas into pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Drain peas.
- Add the seasonings, celery, bell pepper, and butter.
- Cover the mixture with water and boil. Reduce to simmer and simmer for 1 ½ hours.
- Enjoy!
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