Giving Thanks
Well, it is officially that time of year again! Thanksgiving is less than a day away, and I am thoroughly excited about the holiday season and all that it includes; tradition, good food, family time, gifts, decorations... the list goes on!
But as Thanksgiving approaches, I think it's safe to say that each one of us is reminded of the things that we are thankful for. Of course, "friends," "family," and (for us) "our pets" are the most common answers to "What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?"
So this year, I'd like to step OUT of the "family & friends" box and list some of the other things that I am thankful for.
1. I am thankful for my cozy (albeit small), warm apartment and the warm, comfortable bed that I have to sleep in every night.
2. I am thankful for my working lungs. That I can take a deep breath without needing the assistance of tubes and a machine.
3. I am thankful for my legs. Even on the days when I go running and hate every second of it. Because it means that I can run (even if I don't want to).
4. I am thankful for my hair. Even though I complain that it's too thin and not curly enough/too curly (depending on the day), I am thankful that it continues to grow.
5. I am thankful that I have some weight to lose. Ok... I am not that thankful for this one. But having weight to lose means that I have been nourished and have had good food to eat for my entire life.
6. I am thankful for driving in the cold/snow/rain/sleet (oh, Rochester...) because even though it can be a pain, I have a warm vehicle that gets me where I need to go and I do not have to walk anywhere in the inclement weather.
7. I am thankful for my education. I am often surrounded by people with many degrees (I work at a college, after all) so I forget what a small percentage of the population is privileged enough to pursue higher education. When I look back through my family history, I realize how proud they would be if they knew that I had an advanced degree (or any degree at all).
8. I am thankful for the ache of sadness that I feel for missing my grandma, grandpa, and other relatives who are no longer with us. This means that I have loved (and continue to love) them, and for that I am grateful.
9. I am thankful for annoying TV commercials, including the "Christmas" commercials that started two weeks ago, because it means that I have a television to watch them on.
10. I am thankful for my blog! Even if it isn't that good (and let's face it, not many people read it!) I LOVE writing it. Speaking of which, I am thankful to be able to WRITE. Reading and writing are certainly skills that I utilize on a daily basis.
Thanksgiving isn't just a day to give thanks for our family and friends (although they are certainly worth every bit of our thanks)! So this Thanksgiving, I challenge each of you to think of the things that you might only be thankful for if they were gone. It really seems to put things in perspective, doesn't it?
But as Thanksgiving approaches, I think it's safe to say that each one of us is reminded of the things that we are thankful for. Of course, "friends," "family," and (for us) "our pets" are the most common answers to "What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?"
So this year, I'd like to step OUT of the "family & friends" box and list some of the other things that I am thankful for.
1. I am thankful for my cozy (albeit small), warm apartment and the warm, comfortable bed that I have to sleep in every night.
2. I am thankful for my working lungs. That I can take a deep breath without needing the assistance of tubes and a machine.
3. I am thankful for my legs. Even on the days when I go running and hate every second of it. Because it means that I can run (even if I don't want to).
4. I am thankful for my hair. Even though I complain that it's too thin and not curly enough/too curly (depending on the day), I am thankful that it continues to grow.
5. I am thankful that I have some weight to lose. Ok... I am not that thankful for this one. But having weight to lose means that I have been nourished and have had good food to eat for my entire life.
6. I am thankful for driving in the cold/snow/rain/sleet (oh, Rochester...) because even though it can be a pain, I have a warm vehicle that gets me where I need to go and I do not have to walk anywhere in the inclement weather.
7. I am thankful for my education. I am often surrounded by people with many degrees (I work at a college, after all) so I forget what a small percentage of the population is privileged enough to pursue higher education. When I look back through my family history, I realize how proud they would be if they knew that I had an advanced degree (or any degree at all).
8. I am thankful for the ache of sadness that I feel for missing my grandma, grandpa, and other relatives who are no longer with us. This means that I have loved (and continue to love) them, and for that I am grateful.
9. I am thankful for annoying TV commercials, including the "Christmas" commercials that started two weeks ago, because it means that I have a television to watch them on.
10. I am thankful for my blog! Even if it isn't that good (and let's face it, not many people read it!) I LOVE writing it. Speaking of which, I am thankful to be able to WRITE. Reading and writing are certainly skills that I utilize on a daily basis.
Thanksgiving isn't just a day to give thanks for our family and friends (although they are certainly worth every bit of our thanks)! So this Thanksgiving, I challenge each of you to think of the things that you might only be thankful for if they were gone. It really seems to put things in perspective, doesn't it?
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