This, I thought, will make a difference.

The bright aisle offered so many tidy, shiny choices, each packaged with carefully chosen names — bamboo pink, eternal rose, tender berry — and I enjoyed a rush of delight.

Was it vanity or hope, and does it matter? It was lipstick and I felt good.

Other thankfulness happened this week: a trusting friend, a head cold that didn't move into my lungs, a $4 blouse from Goodwill, a dinner of pho, a sun-filled dawn, a Pittsburgh salad (healthy veggies with a handful of fries in the center), a husband who makes me coffee every single morning. But really, it's that moment at the makeup counter that sticks. I don't question gratitude; I'm just thankful to catch its vibe.

Gratitude. Appreciation. Praise. It's Thankful Thursday, a weekly pause to appreciate people, places & things.

What are you thankful for today?