Thankfulness

In today’s times it’s difficult to be optimistic when daily news is full of doom and gloom. Our economic situation seems to get worse on a daily basis. Those of us with children in the military have even greater fears from countries like Iran and North Korea, and the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan loom larger in our minds, keeping us up late at night. Those with jobs don’t really feel secure, because they fear they could join the millions who are already unemployed. The political rhetoric is full of angry and sometimes even hateful vitriol and we wonder what kind of country we are living in and at times think we’re actually living in the twilight zone!

It’s holidays, like today though, when we NEED to slow down, get a grip, and concentrate not on the negative, but the positive, because there truly ARE many encouraging things in our lives, IF we take the time to see them.

I am thankful for my family, who has shown me so much unconditional love. There is nothing, not even gold, that can buy what a family can give via love, security and belonging. Without my family, I feel my spirit would wither and eventually perish. I’m blessed beyond words and I must’ve done something right to have such a wonderful family!

Friends are also important; therefore I’m grateful for them, as well. TRUE friends are hard to find and even harder to keep. They come into our lives when we least expect it and we must honor and cherish them. I am thankful for my friends and hope they know how much they mean to me.

Health is worth more than all the gold in Fort Knox. Those of us who struggle with health issues are more aware of this than most. Nothing can replace good health and without it a person can’t really enjoy life. Never—NEVER, take good health for granted and be thankful EVERY day if you ARE healthy. I’m thankful that even though I have struggles, they aren’t life threatening.

I have many blessings, too many to list, actually, and I berate myself for not being thankful every minute of every day. But I realize that life gets in the way sometimes and it makes it difficult to think of my blessing constantly. So I lighten up a little and give myself credit for appreciating what I DO have, not just on Thanksgiving, but other days of the year, as well. I hope others do this, too, because it’s just too easy to get wrapped up in the rat race and the ugliness of the world around us. We need to see the beauty of our world-- the love and the peace, because they DO exist. Please SEE them!

I hope on this Thanksgiving holiday more people see the good, the peace and the blessings. And may ALL of you—MY friends, have a Happy Thanksgiving, filled with lots of love and ALL that makes YOU truly happy.