2023

We are not required to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day…or any other day. For much of the year many people endure constant pain – physical and emotional. Many suffer losses that dwarf our own and that thwart any effort to appreciate what good remains. I know someone who within a year lost his marriage, his job, his dog, his home, his new pickup truck, some of his friends and all of his savings. I still see this guy every day… in the mirror.
Too often for some folks it is really, really hard to be thankful. And yet it can be therapeutic. Like physical therapy after a hip replacement or psycho-therapy after emotional trauma. It can be really hard to stick with it and we truly want to give up. But, don’t. Do not quit.
Remember, there is no rule that says you must never compare yourself to others. If you were told so when you were young, consider how the context has changed today. You alone can decide if you want to compare your luck with that of others. You decide: compared to a healthy, wealthy and happy person you might feel “cheated.” Comparing yourself with a poor, starving and unloved person can present a glimpse of the “lucky” aspects of your life. It is true that everything is relative. Use that to your advantage.
And, just as with physical therapy, we don’t do it all-day every day. Be thankful when you can. Try for one thankful thought per day. Every little bit helps.
Feeling thankful.