Thanksgiving

Is it true? Can we overcome by focusing only on the positive, on what we have to be thankful for? I think so. Will that stop bad things from happening? Of course not. We cannot control what happens to us, only how we react to it.

Ok, so I'm trite. I just have to say it as I see it. These are profound truths that I have learned over the last ten years. But that's not why I started writing this. I started this post to list all the things I am thankful for on this day of thanks. The first item on the list, I see, is wisdom. Here is the rest of my list:

My family. I have a husband who loves and supports me, three kids who are growing into adults that I can be proud of, and a sister with whom I am close despite the fact that my mother did all she could to tear us apart.

My friends. What can I say? I have been blessed with friends, old and new who know me, love me and accept me for who I am. Some of them even read my blog. What more can I ask for?

My job. Yes, my job. As much as I complain, I have an income and health coverage. I also have the privilege to teach, to spend my days with young people who will some day run the world. I can only hope that I am giving them the tools they need to be fair, kind, and gentle with each other and our earth.

My home. Again, I complain about taxes and say I'd move in a minute, but the reality is we are stuck here for now. So each day I appreciate the beauty afforded me when I look out my window and see our great river and all the creatures that populate it. It is a house that fits us perfectly as we are now.

My health. So far so good. I feel pretty good, despite my advancing age. I enjoy yoga and have the energy to do what needs to get done. What more can I ask for?

That's quite a list.

Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your day. Enjoy your life.