There is a reason they call it Thanksgiving. It’s not about Turkey. It’s not about football. And it’s not about Black Friday Eve. Simply put, it’s about being thankful. And while the idea might seemed played, or even a bit cliche’ this time of year, there is something about the creating space to be thankful. To thank.

Historically, Thanksgiving is tied to the harvest. Our lives look different today. Our harvest is different.

If you read our previous post, you’ll know that the Rule29 team has been attempting to instill space to reflect on the things that matter. We’ve done this here. And we’ve decided to share a few below. All in all, we’d like to thank YOU for being a part of our lives, whether loosely, or closely. And for those who are on the closer side… can you guess who is thankful for what?

From Andy, Bob, Dawn, Justin, Kara (The Cheech), Katrina, Kerri, Sarah, Susan, and Tim (not in this order):

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What matters to you?

I’ve noticed that we ask this question to other people a lot around here. Whether it’s our clients, friends or family members, we are really interested in what matters to others. It means something to us, helps us to understand and live in harmony with each other. Why is it then, that we ask ourselves this question so infrequently?

In the spirit of the season, we would like to change that. So we are posing this question to ourselves and to you.

What matters to you?

We encourage you to take some time to stop and really wonder about it. Don’t be intimidated.  Start small. What matters to you today? Is it getting to work on time? Making sure you get through your to do list? Spending a couple quality hours with your family tonight?

Recently we created a space to collect the things that matter to us. It’s a site that holds the words and images that represent what is important to us (take a peek here). We’d love for you to take a look and if you’d like, take those ideas you’ve come up with and add to this collection of things that matter (you can also submit via the #matterstoyou hash-tag on Twitter).

So, try to set aside a moment to pause and consider what matters to you. It could be what’s in front of you right now.

Join us in sharing what matters to you!

This year I am thankful for people who care.

As Thanksgiving is soon upon us and thoughts turn to turkey and sweet potato casseroles (my personal favorite), many try to consider the things they are thankful for this past year. 2010, like many of the years proceeding it, has had its share of ups and downs. From the economy to natural disasters, we have been through a lot this past year. Through it all, the thing I am most thankful for are the individuals in my life and on a larger scale, the world, that care.

It seems like a small thing, but caring is a big deal and it is always one of the first steps to larger things. So thank you to everyone who has chosen to care this year. Thank you for the times you passed up the opportunity to be cynical and didn’t leave this mess for someone else to clean up. Thank you for taking the risk to get up close and personal with people and making a difference.

The TED talk above is one of those people this year that chose to care. Emily Pilloton is from California but chose to move her company, Project H, to Bertie, North Carolina. She believes design can make a big difference in people’s lives, especially those living in rural America.

Like many small towns across the U.S., Bertie is a community struggling to survive. With the loss of jobs and residents, its story is depressing and a unwelcome reminder of a struggling economy a seemingly hopeless future for rural communities. But this is where the story of  Bertie changes. Emily’s story of Project H’s partnership with a small dying town and the creation of Studio H is incredibly inspiring and shows the amazing things that transpire when people chose to care.

We hope you enjoy the talk and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

And if you have the chance please take the opportunity to show someone that you care too.

PS. Let us know what you are thankful for this season and then post it on Appreciate-It.com.