Being Thankful
As I have seen a few more sunsets, it has become my personal tradition to celebrate Thanksgiving by attempting to list what I have to be thankful for in the past year. May be it’s an extension of a family tradition where when all of us were gathered around the family Thanksgiving dinner table, when after saying grace my Grandmother would ask “The Question,” “What is one thing you’re thankful for this year?” Every year as we would go around the table, attempting to pass her muster with an acceptable answer. If she didn’t like your answer, she was not shy about letting you know it, even if it sparked a small debate or two.
Now that I’m older and hopefully a little wiser, I understand that Grandmother’s purpose in asking “The Question” was her idea of a reality check. We lived a pretty good life by most standards, but she never let us ever feel entitled. If she were still alive, this year I’d answer her this way…
Grandma, I’ve learned to try to be thankful each and every day. Composing a list where I “try” to come up with each and everything I should be thankful for is an impossible task for this human being to accomplish. I have learned by trial and error, and more errors than I’d care to admit to you, that gratitude needs to be shown to each and every day. No matter how it is received. Being thankful and expressing it for things large and small, has become engrained in my behavior. And that was probably the point of the lesson you delivered to us every Thanksgiving.
If I were to take your gratitude quiz this year, I’d say I have a lot to be thankful. Not everything has gone my way, but then you taught me I should never expect to always get my way. I’ve tried hard to stay honest, ethical, focused and positive. I’ve even act like a lady, even when the odds have been stacked against me. I think I’ve succeed most of the time. I am very fortunate to have friends and family who truly care about me, through thick and thin, and have generously helped us without objection most of the time. I only hope we’ve been able to return their kindness and good will by being helpful.
This year events like Hurricane Katrina has reminded me that it’s not what things you have, because things don’t make you happy. It’s how you behave and treat others in our daily lives that is more important. I’ve learned to live each day, one at a time and do my best to take it as it comes. You never know when this day is your last. So I intend to try and live life with no regrets, and be grateful for living this way with those I love most.
Here’s wishing you a happy, safe and healthy Thanksgiving with those you love.
