Thanksgiving is Over But You Still Have to Live
Thanksgiving is over, but that doesn’t mean we should stop being Thankful. Part of what I love about Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays, is the nostalgia that comes with them.
As a kid, we always had huge family gatherings for the holidays. I come from a divorced family, so we had multiple large family gatherings.
We got together with both sides of multiple families. These events were large, crazy, hectic, tiring, and just freaking awesome.
They gave me a chance to see family that I usually didn’t. Unfortunate to say that, but it’s the truth. Those holidays gave us a chance to all be together.
But why do we need holidays to bring us together? Why does it only happen once or a few times a year? Why are we only Thankful or grateful during the holidays?
Maybe it’s not that we’re ungrateful; it’s just that we’re not aware sometimes. Things that seem like little everyday things to us go unnoticed. Until they’re not there anymore.
You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
Things I’m Grateful For
Internet
I’m grateful for the internet and computer I’m working on right now.
Approximately 37% of the earth’s population has never used the internet, and that’s hard for me to imagine.
Something that I have easy access to every minute of every day hasn’t even been used by a third of the world’s population.
And I take it for granted every day.
Food
I feel so fortunate for the food my family and I have easy access to. People every day, all over the world don’t have food to eat.
Children go to school daily without breakfast and only each lunch because the school provides it. If they’re lucky enough to be in a good school system.
Daily hunger affects approximately 10% of the world’s population. People can’t eat! They can’t just go to the refrigerator and get something when they’re hungry. In fact, a portion of the population doesn’t have refrigerators.
Shelter
I consider my house my dream house. Not every place I’ve lived has been my dream, but they’ve all been adequate.
They were in good condition and had central heat, A/C, running water, beds, sofas, TVs, etc. Most importantly, they were safe.
It’s estimated that there are 552,000 homeless people in the United States alone and then 150 million worldwide. Let those numbers sink in.
Families with children don’t have a place to call home. A sanctuary to feel safe.
Friends
The majority of my friends that I have, have been with me for decades. They’re the absolute best people I’ve ever met. My life wouldn’t be the same without them.
However, not everyone has friends. They don’t have people to rely on and confide in.
Friendship is one of our basic needs.
Family
My family means more to me as I get older.
If I had known then what I know now, I would have done things differently when I was younger. I would have spent more time with my family.
Without the love and support, I’ve received from my mom and many other family members, I don’t know where or what I’d be today. Definitely not who I am now.
I have an amazing wife and two children. All are healthy, able-bodied, and living well.
Health
I’m currently healthy. I can walk, run and play with my kids. There are plenty of people in the world that don’t have it that easy.
Clothes
I’m not big on clothes but I have all I need. Work clothes, basketball clothes, golf clothes, going out clothes, etc.
Just a few months ago, I learned of a child, in my area, who was wearing the same clothes to school every day because their family was in a tough spot. The same clothes every day in an affluent area.
The sad part is that some kids don’t have a proper set of clothes, period.
Opportunities
I’ve been put in the position to have some great opportunities in life. As Warren Buffet would say, I’ve won the Ovarian Lottery.
I feel incredibly fortunate for the opportunities presented to me, and I recognize that not everyone has these opportunities.
Get Busy Living
Being grateful isn’t something that should happen only during Thanksgiving. We need to be thankful all year round.
You have something or many things that many others don’t. They wish they had those things that you have and may or may not take for granted every day.
It’s easy to get caught up in the monotony of life, go through the motions and forget to be thankful for all that we have. It’s easy to focus on the things we don’t have instead of being grateful for what we do have.
There are many more things that I’m grateful for that I haven’t mentioned. I’m working on recognizing these things and becoming more aware of them daily.
There may be many things that you’re grateful for in your life that I haven’t mentioned. Take some time and think about them. Feel free to comment about them below.
Please share with me and others to help us become more aware of ourselves. Because we should be grateful and “living” all year round.
My intention isn’t to remove anything from the magic of holidays. The idea is to add magic to every day. Because I know it sounds cheesy, but every day of life is a gift.
You came naked
You will leave naked
You came without anything
You will leave without anything
You arrived weak
You will leave weak
So, why so much hatred, resentment, envy, selfishness, and pride?
We will all go empty-handed; all material things we have earned, we earned here and will leave everything here only.
The only thing that will go with you, that you actually earned here is the love you shared, the compassion you showed, your humbleness, your gratitude, your helpfulness, and your kindness.
That is the legacy you will leave here that everyone will follow.
Unknown author
