Happy Thanksgiving! Collecting Blessings
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder
Happy Thanksgiving! I have been doing a lot of “listening” this November to what’s on people’s minds. I began collecting a list of some of the themes I most often heard:
- Fear over the future of the economy
- Fear about covering bills
- Worry about the impending holidays and preparations
- Recaps of aches and pains (physical and mental)
Now let me tell you some of the themes I didn’t hear:
- How thankful people were they had shelter
- How thankful people were for their family
- How thankful people were for this day
While I am sure those themes are in the hearts of many, they are not on their lips. We seem more prone to share what we have to live without than all the wonderful things we live with.
Like many, I too find these times to be stressful, but what of that? I know stress only grows if I choose to let it. Instead, I choose to be thankful that I have known good times so that I know what stressful times are. There are many who have never known anything but stress, many who have to fight for food or clean water, many who have no home, let alone a mortgage to lament over.
Sure, the grass is always greener—somewhere. But this Thanksgiving morning I wonder how often we make that grass greener somewhere else because we look so longingly at it. If we spent as much time looking at, and being thankful for, the grass beneath our own feet, we might discover it is the greenest of all.
Your Turn: Today collect a list of all that is right in your life; all that you have to be thankful for. Do not look beyond yourself, look within. If you are reading this, then surely you have a computer—so there is one for your list. And I am guessing you aren’t reading this outside—so that is number two. Keep going. See how long you can make your list and then share it if you like on the blog. Watch how your attitude and energy shift when you replace your list of worries with a list of blessings.
My first entry of the day is all of you… my heartfelt thanks for taking your valuable time to share and read my work. I appreciate you all more than words can say.
Today’s Affirmation: I collect blessings.
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Just released: Good Morning: 365 Positive Ways to Start Your Day by Brook Noel - You’ll find 365 Good Morning entries to inspire you throughout the year. Order your autographed copy by clicking here.
November 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
At our thanksgiving dinner later today, I am planning on telling my children and all others present about the news I heard last night, which I am so ever thankful for, as many of us have been praying, our prayers have been answered.
Our neighbor and long time friend, their son who I know since birth, is also a neighbor, he and his wife purchased a house in our neighborhood prior to deciding to start a family. Their first born 2 year old son, just after he was a year old and only a month before his sister was born, was diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease, attacking his liver.
The doctors thought they had it under control and was trying to wean him from the steroids he is taking to new drugs. The day after he was placed on a different “new” drug, which was more than a month ago, he had a seizure and was air lifted to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia where he has been being treated. He continued to have seizures and after he was a bit better it was discovered that he was left blind.
We have all been praying, he is on many churches prayer chains, even those that are not of his faith. On his sister’s first birthday, he was given a 6 hour pass to leave the hospital. That was almost 2 weeks ago. He did see that day for the first time, but his sight still came and went.
My friend called me last night and said that he is seeing all the time now, and that he will be released from the hospital any day now. We still need to pray for his health, but at least he can see again.
They did document this reaction, because it is the same reaction that a 30 and 50 year person received from this same medication, which they will never give him again, and hopefully not to anyone else either.
Since our children all grew up together as if they were family, I know they will be so happy to hear this wonderful news. All our stresses seem tiny when compared to one’s health.
May God bless you for continually making us all take an inventory of our blessings and not concentrate on weaknesses. I am trying very hard think positive every day in every way.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Tina from NJ
November 28th, 2008 at 12:41 am
this thanksgiving holiday is very hard for me and my 4 little girls since the tragic death of my husband last x’mas 2007 for saving 2 strangers that fell in a frozen lake but then I am thankful for all the good memories and things that he had left us. Those are the reason why I was able to be strong for my children. He was a perfect man & father so we always have good times to look back. Thank you too Brooke for all your articles, it’s very uplifting and makes me more to be positive in encountering this journey of grief & life
November 28th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I don’t usually make comments, even in a class, but sit back and listen to all the comments being made. Lately I have been collecting blessings. We had one of those summers that you don’t want to repeat. My husband was out of work for most of it; we were living with my parents with our four children and I was pregnant; husband found a job five hours away and moved out so we were apart for nearly three months (there was a fight involved, too). Anyway, he worked, not being able to get any time off, and found a house for us to live in. I had the baby and moved up a week later with our now five children. I am grateful to have a roof over our heads and food to eat (even though we’re living off savings pretty much right now). I’m grateful to have some kind of income and I have started a job that I can do at home. I have five beautiful, healthy children. We had to trade in our suburban because it was dying, but we got a new one and it’s paid for. Gas prices have DROPPED!!! I have friends and family that love me. Thank you, Brook, for reminding us what is important!
December 1st, 2008 at 9:00 am
Brooke,
I am reading this post and comments on the Monday after Thanksgiving. While I am always thankful for my family, my God, and my life, I sometimes find myself focusing on the have nots instead of the haves. My New Year’s resolution (a little early) will be to remember that things are not the most important; That the intangibles are the ones to be most grateful for. Thank you for reminding us to be thankful everyday for the little things in life. I am making a sign for my desk, “Life is too short. Be thankful everyday”. Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.
Maggie