With Thanksgiving just barely behind us, and leftover turkey still in the fridge, I got to thinking about what it means to be
thankful. Looking at my life, I realize that I have many things I am thankful for, including my health, an amazing wife, and a baby on the way. I am living a somewhat austere lifestyle compared to other times in my life, but it works for me and I am happy I can do this. On Thanksgiving, we are all reminded to be thankful, but I wish we didn't have to wait all year to reflect on what we are thankful for. I wish we had it within us to realize every day just how blessed we are to be right where we are.
It's one thing to be grateful, and to keep all those yummy vibes to yourself, but it's another to speak and write words of gratitude to others. Do you know how much a simple, heartfelt "thank you" can change someone's life? And I don't mean the customary, almost hypocritical, thanks that most of us show during the holidays. A sincere and unfeigned thank you goes a long way.
Thanksgiving is celebrated to give thanks for the year's blessings and bounty. At least, that's how it began. It is not, however, the current focus. Most people defile the day's spirit with how they choose to spend it: over a full four-day holiday weekend, with overindulgent eating, parades, and "can't miss" football. Not cool, and not what the holiday was intended for.
Instead, we should be taking this holiday, if not every day, to recognize and be thankful for what we have, what we strive for, and for the people in our lives. I am thankful that I have many wonderful people in my life who are doing amazing things. Erna, for example, is a good friend of mine who runs a nonprofit organization called Asante. Asante helps children in Africa develop leadership skills so they can become agents of change in their communities. Erna spent her Thanksgiving doing just that—bringing leadership skills to the children in Africa. She is amazing, and her work and passion go a long way towards making a difference for many people in Africa—not just the kids that she helps, but their families as well. I am thankful for Erna, the phenomenal work that she does every day (not only on holidays), and for our friendship.
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No, I am not asking you to give up your current job and run with Erna to Africa to help needy children (although, if that's something you would like to do, I could connect you with her!). I think that if you take the time to sit down and reflect on what you are truly thankful for, it will suffice. Thanksgiving has come and gone, but that doesn't mean you should wait until next year to take an inventory of your life. What are you thankful for? Is there anything amiss that you wish could be different? Is there any part of your life that is preventing you from moving forward? You potentially have the power to change that, or at least to change how you are reacting to a particular part of your life that is holding you back.
Start with this holiday season, take an inventory of your life, and continue to do so through all of the days that come after. Be thankful for the things you are happy about, and start making plans to change the things you aren't too happy about. At Beyond the Fear, we are all about change and living a happier life. As Maya Angelou put it very eloquently : "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."
And just in case you find yourself struggling, here is a list of things going on in the world that we can all be thankful for: 23 charts to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Nice post. Thanks! I am always trying to be aware of how I can change things in my life to keep me on path to becoming a better person and finding ways to give back to the world! It is a life-long process!