More than a single day

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is the day we count our blessings and give thanks.  For some cultures, this practice extends over Kwanzaa.  Why is it we often forget how blessed we are and fail to give thanks every day?  I’ve had many reasons recently to think about the way blessings come to us in many forms throughout our lives.

The blessings I’m counting; for which I give thanks

In April of this year (2009) I was hospitalized.  Rather than a disaster, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  That hospitalization brought me to a screeching halt and put mortality straight in my face.  I began making the necessary changes in my lifestyle; most changes were mere baby steps, but I made them.

I started thinking about the goals I wanted to accomplish ’someday.’  ‘Someday’ had waited through raising a family; working to support that family; helping to raise grandchildren; and lately, helping my mom.  In all, I had spent close to a half century thinking ’someday’ would come.  As I worked to regain balance, I accepted that there weren’t that many days left; I had better get started.

I had planned to complete my degree.  My original plan was to attend my state university once I became a senior citizen and could take advantage of the senior tuition waiver.  Well, we all know how the economy has been the past couple of years.  Budget cuts took away the senior citizen tuition waiver.  I checked out online schools and applied even though I doubted I could make tuition payments or get financial aid.  I was wrong, I was accepted at a good university and my admissions counselor worked to help me clear the financial aid hurdle.  Big blessing!

Blessings through adversity

Adding school to the rest of my responsibilities filled my plate to overflowing.  I was doing well in the first few weeks; then I slipped an assignment deadline.  My healthy lifestyle changes disappeared.  My mom started needing more of my time.  I despaired over keeping my grades up so I could win scholarships and lessen the amount of my student loan repayment.

Just this night, I called an ambulance to take my mother to the emergency room.  While putting myself together to meet her there, I realized I had slipped another assignment deadline.  That’s when I realized I was facing another blessing in disguise:  it wasn’t worth my sanity or my health to maintain a 4.0 average.  It certainly wasn’t worth missing time with my mother.  I found the button between ‘full speed ahead’ and ’stop.’  Its label is ‘moderation.’  It’s not going to be easy, but I’ve been blessed with an insight on priorities and how unnecessary it is to be a superstar.  I’ve found a way to take myself off the hook and lessen my level of stress.

Giving thanks every day

  I’m home from the emergency room; my mother is with me.  Her health is still fragile, but we’re working to improve that as much as humanly possible.  Better yet, she’s still her determined, full-of-vinegar self.  I truly give thanks for this blessing. While you are sitting at your tables, blessed with food and family, definitely give thanks.  We’ve all received a blessing, no matter how tough things are in this economy.  We’re alive and loved.  There are those souls that don’t even have that.  While we’re celebrating Thanksgiving, let’s remember that each day is an opportunity to recognize the blessings we have; that each day is a new start and a chance to do better.  Each day alive is a blessing in itself for which to give thanks.

 This is my opinion.  I’d love to hear yours.  Please leave a comment.