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Thanksgiving.  For most people, the one day of the year where they take some time and think about things they’re thankful for.  I can remember as a kid, sitting around the table on thanksgiving, going around in a circle and having to say something I was thankful for.  For some reason that escapes me, I remember always being embarrassed about whatever I would say.  Perhaps it was because, although logically, I was thankful for whatever thing I said I was thankful for, I didn’t feel it.

I’ve since come to learn that gratitude is something to be felt everyday, and in fact it is the first step towards making any kind of changes in your life.  You must be grateful for where you are and where you’ve come from, both what you would consider the good and the bad.  If you can’t be grateful for something in your life, I’d wager that it’s because you haven’t taken responsibility for it.  Perhaps this Thanksgiving you can take a look at your life and be thankful for all of it.

What I’m Thankful For:

My Earthly Mother, my Heavenly Father, a family that is unusual and strange and full of love for each other, a mother who’s always blindly believed in me, a father who did his best, even if it still wasn’t quite good enough, he was a much better father than his own father was to him.

For sunlight warming the skin, the breeze for blowing, the trees for showing me how to stand tall and strong even in the fiercest winds.  For the songs I hear in my head that come to me from somewhere I call Magical, for the stories whispered in my ear of fantastical places and people. For friends and people of character, may there be more in the world.

For a great relationship and a horrible break-up that taught me how to love, honor, and trust myself, and for the Pain that finally taught me that I didn’t want to be motivated by pain anymore.

For two cats, Calvin and Izzy, who daily teach me patience and that if you want to be petted than put yourself right up against someone and rub

For a band that I love and love to be in, who daily teach me patience and that if you want to be petted than put yourself right up against someone and rub!!!

For a God who remains known and unknown, and the Universe that continually reveals one mystery after the next.

Most of all, I’m extremely grateful for Life.  For the fact that I’m here, that I exist, that I experience.  I’m thankful for Love and her still small voice never forcing, never controlling, always free.

This is the short list, and tomorrow (or later today I suppose) when the sun comes up I will wake and smile and feel Gratitude, and with my actions, may I give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!