A friend of mine recently said that she didn't have anything to be thankful for. I still don't know whether to be angry at her (my instinctive reaction) or sad for her. Granted we have both just lost a good friend to breast cancer (a pain that I feel particularly acutely).
But "nothing" to be thankful for? Really?
Even in the darkest hour, you should be able to find something good in your life. Something precious to you - something that you are truly glad that you have.
Why is that so hard for some people? It's a really scary concept, because it is in that depth of utter despair, if you can't see anything of value in your life, that bad things happen.
It's so easy for me to come up with a seemingly endless list of things for which I'm thankful. And the reason for that, I think, is that I'm not seeking perfection.
Too many people seem to be unable to be happy without perfection. And that's tragic, because perfection is simply unattainable.
I'm thankful for a healthy body.
Is it perfect? No. But should that even matter?
I'm thankful for loving parents and a happy childhood.
Were there bits that were painful? Sure. But why let that color the overall experience?
I'm thankful for my wonderful husband.
Is he flawless? No - and I couldn't stand him if he was, because I'm not. And one person's 'flawed' is another person's 'special'.
I'm thankful to live in one of the most beautiful and hospitable places in the world.
Paradise? Not quite...but as close as you could hope to get.
I'm thankful for my family.
It's our quirks that make us fun as much as they make us sometimes exasperating.
I'm thankful for my job.
At its most challenging is when I seem to love it the most.
I'm thankful for every single day that I wake up.
Are they all great days? Of course not...but each one opens with promise. And there have been times when I honestly thought that they were indeed numbered and that the number was way too small.
I'm thankful for the desire to explore and the ability to travel.
Is it always easy to do? Nope. Is it ever frustrating? Yep. Do I care? Not a bit!
And on and on and on...
I'm thankful for all of the blessings of life that I enjoy...and I try to stop each and every day and remember just how blessed I am. Gratitude is a source of pleasure in itself.
Stop looking for the perfect - find your bliss amongst the ordinary. And let yourself be filled with thanks.
Oh...and I'm thankful that I'm not a turkey...
3 comments:
Pearl,
I couldn't agree with you more. I always say that I am not perfect, so why should I expect others to be. I don't like perfection anyway, too boring.
When I was growing up - three of my cousins didn't get past the age of ten. That makes me thankful that I did!
The turkey picture I posted was actually taken with my Android...my camera was inside, in my purse. I was playing a game of online Scrabble with friends, so the Android didn't require me to move and scare the birds away.
Loved your Thanksgiving post (and photo, lol)
I'm thankful I know you and can visit your blog!
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