Thursday, November 24, 2011

Giving Thanks



Some few days before Thanksgiving arrives and I am sitting alone in a dark and peaceful space thinking of the weeks to come. Life holds so many twists and turns, our handling of them ultimately decides much of our journey as well as the mindset we bring along with us. Bad things inevitably occur along our pathways in life. Despite the best of plans, some darkness must cross into our way to assist us in being able to recognize the true and dearest joys within our lives. I do not feel these negative events occur to punish us, but rather to enlighten us and help to refill our well of gratitude's as well as give us perspective on where we need to go and what we need to do to get to that endpoint.

As I sit here in the beautiful glow of a flickering wood stove, I am reminded that life's most wonderful pleasures and treasures are right within our grasp and cost us nothing but time and faith that things will go the way they should go for us. If all of us truly look at each of our days, we can find daily gratitude's to pay mind to and utter aloud. Often we miss so many things we have that enhance and make our lives wonderful every day.

Now it is Thanksgiving day, I have worked and had some sleep, and continue to ponder on thanks in my life. I am thankful not only for my job but for the mere ability to be able to work. So many are unemployed, out of work due to illness and I think many take the obvious for granted. I am thankful to have decent health, sufficient food, a wonderful home, friends to enjoy and family that I love nearby. Traditions have changed as I have grown older, but I realize this is just part of the rhythm of life itself. I am grateful to have had two parents who loved one another and raised five strong children into five adults. I am grateful to have had an older brother who I looked up to in a multitude of ways, though he has left this earthly plain, Gary will always be a part of me with many wonderful memories to make me smile often.  I am grateful for my own three adult children, each has made me have pride in them. I am thankful for other loved ones in my life that hold me up and give me strength, happiness and wisdom. I am grateful for all who support me emotionally and walk with me in my daily journey in life. I am also grateful for the intense positive attitude I have been blessed with and my ability to see everyday the best side of things possible, as well as the opportunity to learn from my errors and negative experiences along the way. For me, the glass has always been half full and I am grateful for that. I am confident that my life will continue to be filled with good and bad times that I can learn from and use to move forward .

I have no magical formula, only a belief that life is a wonderful gift that I am grateful for and appreciate more each passing day and year. May you all find the thanks and gratitude's in each of your own life's journeys.
~Balance in all things~