Thanksgiving

The point of Thanksgiving is to remember the
things we have to be grateful for. It's our special
time to give thanks... not just for the obvious, like
food, but for the thousands of fortunate moments,
the multitude of blessings that we receive each year.
That's not always as easy as it sounds. We tend to
remember the bad things much more easily than the good.



Don't focus on what you don't have. Focus on what you do have. For example: "I'm so fortunate to have a warm place to sleep in
the winter." "I'm so fortunate to live in a safe neighborhood where
I can take walks." "I'm so fortunate to be able to see the beauty around me."


Think about people you've known that have made you thankful
for their existence.


They can be family, friends or simply people that you've read
about or seen on television. Imagine how many other people
there are who might be equally as wonderful. You just haven't met
them yet. Think about people who have made life hard for you.


Now think about the things you accomplished because of them.
Did you finish something because they said that you couldn't?
Did you get better at something because they made fun of you
when you did it badly? Did their cruel actions make you vow never
to treat others that way? Even the negative forces in your life can
be hidden blessings, worthy of your gratitude.



Think about the animals that have given you joy: Dogs that love
you with every inch of their hearts, cats that think your lap is the
best place to nap in the whole world, birds whose songs uplift your
spirit, squirrels whose antics put a grin on your face and so on.



Think about the places that make you smile: A favorite hangout,
a wooded trail, an exciting city, a great spot from which to view
the sky, a hill that you once rolled down. Give thanks for all these things.