Thursday is my favorite holiday, although this year it could be very different for many folks, especially those whose routine normally includes travel. That doesn’t mean it will be bad, just different. Most of us are incredibly blessed, especially when compared to the majority of the planet’s 7 billion inhabitants.
While we may be aware of our blessings, it can sometimes be a challenge to acknowledge them when problems are coming at us from every direction. The events of this year only seem to magnify the problems. But dealing with problems is part of life and dealing with them successfully is part of a successful life.
Everybody has problems and some people let you know the minute you see them. Do you know someone like that? They want you to know that they have every problem in the book, from health issues to relationship problems to money problems. But those people have blessings too, although you wouldn't know it from listening to them.
The thing is, those people who you never hear complain also have problems. Perhaps they're more adept at solving their problems or maybe they see the futility in burdening others with their problems. Or maybe they have learned to keep their problems in perspective. Their own financial setback can indeed seem trivial when compared to their neighbor's life threatening illness.
This isn't to say that you can't confide in a friend about a current problem that you're wrestling with. A true friend will not only empathize with you, but perhaps can offer a perspective that you've overlooked. A true friend is one of life's finest blessings.
Having a formal holiday to remind us to give thanks for our blessings is in itself a blessing. Being grateful is good for the soul. Cicero said "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others."
So on Thursday, amidst the food, football, family, and festivities, we should keep in mind the words of our 35th president: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." And Charles Dickens also: "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."
Happy Thanksgiving!
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