Thanksgiving is perhaps the easiest holiday in which to actually prevent that from happening. It's right there in the name: Thanksgiving. Giving thanks. Being grateful for all that is good in our lives. Acknowledging our triumphs. "Counting Your Blessings." Taking the time to understand that even in the worst of times there are still blessings in our lives.
Tomorrow is the day that we all (or at least most of us) will celebrate the bounty in our lives. Sharing a day with our families, being glad for our good fortune and knowing that even though life could be better, it most definitely could be worse....much worse.
One of the best is a blessing we, if we are very lucky, all share....the caring, support, and joy given to us by families, friends, and the people who love us. I am grateful for each and every one of you. I wish you a joyous day celebrating all that you have, all that you love, all that brings you happiness. I will be doing the same!
As has become my custom, below is my annual list of what I am thankful for above and beyond my family, my good health, and all the basic goodness of life:
26 Things I am Grateful For - 2013
This year I give thanks for:
1. Artists who share their perceptions of the beauty and wonder of the world we inhabit,
2. Balloons which can lift our spirits even though they are just a bag of air.
3. Children who give us such joy and will, one day, fulfill the promise of tomorrow.
4. Dreams that come true (and nightmares that Don't!)
5, Elephants those generally gentle giants who lumber through our world and fascinate us.
6. Fun that keeps us from being overwhelmed by life.
7. Games like board games, card games, computer games....challengers of luck, speed, brain power, and skills of all sorts. Definitely one of the Fun things in life.
8, Houses those cleverly designed, beautifully made, individual havens for families.
9. Intellect the amazing ability found within us to learn, retain, and respect knowledge.
10. Jewelry those beautiful, dazzling, and flattering adornments that enhance not only the way we look but also the way we feel.
11. Keepsakes those things we collect as reminders of the places we've been, the people we've known, the things we've done and moments we'll never forget.
12. Luck that fleeting and uncontrollable factor that can bring us great things just by being in the right place at the right time.
13. Men the males of the species who are so easy to love, so difficult to understand, and so handy to have around.
14. Nighttime and all those wonderful and fun things that can be done after dark...like theater!
15. Oceans, most specifically the Atlantic Ocean, where I have spent a great deal of time in the sand, by the water, under the sun, under the stars, and renewing my spirit.
16. Pockets those handy little hideaways for tissues, change, keys, and hands which appear in all men's clothing but only occasionally in women's clothing!!
17. Quilts one of the last remaining sewing traditions still practiced by a talented few, which result in beautiful, hand-made, bed covers made up of snippets of cloth which often come from our pasts.
18. Reunions those wonderful gatherings of your oldest and dearest friends (often from school) that you still connect with even after all the years.
19. Sunshine that which provides our world with light, warmth, energy and at least for people like me anyway....happiness!
20.Travel the experience of going somewhere new, or somewhere different, or somewhere that's home!
21. Umbrellas those useful gadgets that give me something to be grateful for that starts with "U" that ISN'T underwear!
22. Vision both the essential gift of sight and the individual gift of being able to "see" how a play should be staged, cast, and acted in order to create and direct a good production.
23. Women the females of the species who make up the Sisterhood of mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins, friends, forever friends, teachers and role models....each of whom is special, unique, original, and essential to one another.
24. XXXXXs and OOOOOs all those kisses and hugs received over the course of my lifetime, which allowed me to know I was loved.
25. Yesterdays all the days of my life and the lessons I have learned thus far that have made me into the person I am today.
26. Zings all of those feelings of pure joy at priceless moments of excitement and happiness that come at suddenly special times when you least expect them.
There, that's it for this year, 26 things I am grateful for. Some are new, some have appeared on previous lists, some are serious and some are just silly. Nevertheless, tomorrow when we give thanks for all our blessings, I'll at least have a place to start!
Happy Thanksgiving, my good and dear friends. Don't forget to count your blessings as well!
16. Pockets those handy little hideaways for tissues, change, keys, and hands which appear in all men's clothing but only occasionally in women's clothing!!
17. Quilts one of the last remaining sewing traditions still practiced by a talented few, which result in beautiful, hand-made, bed covers made up of snippets of cloth which often come from our pasts.
18. Reunions those wonderful gatherings of your oldest and dearest friends (often from school) that you still connect with even after all the years.
19. Sunshine that which provides our world with light, warmth, energy and at least for people like me anyway....happiness!
20.Travel the experience of going somewhere new, or somewhere different, or somewhere that's home!
21. Umbrellas those useful gadgets that give me something to be grateful for that starts with "U" that ISN'T underwear!
22. Vision both the essential gift of sight and the individual gift of being able to "see" how a play should be staged, cast, and acted in order to create and direct a good production.
23. Women the females of the species who make up the Sisterhood of mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins, friends, forever friends, teachers and role models....each of whom is special, unique, original, and essential to one another.
24. XXXXXs and OOOOOs all those kisses and hugs received over the course of my lifetime, which allowed me to know I was loved.
25. Yesterdays all the days of my life and the lessons I have learned thus far that have made me into the person I am today.
26. Zings all of those feelings of pure joy at priceless moments of excitement and happiness that come at suddenly special times when you least expect them.
There, that's it for this year, 26 things I am grateful for. Some are new, some have appeared on previous lists, some are serious and some are just silly. Nevertheless, tomorrow when we give thanks for all our blessings, I'll at least have a place to start!
Happy Thanksgiving, my good and dear friends. Don't forget to count your blessings as well!
Wonderful list! Have a great Thanksgiving!
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