The Art of Being Thankful

Yup! This entry is going to be totally cliché. After all, it is that time of year where we stop and think about what we are thankful for in our lives. So here it is. My list of thankful.

1.   One less kid home for the holidays

Sean won’t be coming home for the holidays this year. He has been with me every year at Christmas since 1988. I will miss him dreadfully. However, I am so very thankful that he will be spending the holidays honoring fallen soldiers. I am thankful for the man of repute he has become. Most of all, I am thankful he is not one of the fallen.

2.  Unemployment

Tony does not have a typical job down here. A few days a week, he drives a rickshaw for tips only and substitutes whenever he gets the opportunity. While we never know what we can count on for the budget, I know I can count on him to be there for the girls; to clean the house; to get the vacuuming done; and so much more. I cannot even fathom how he could enjoy working inside the home. The coolest thing about it…he does it with a smile.

3.   A Little Bit of Sass

As much as it drives me crazy, I am thankful I have children that speak up for themselves. Patti may ask 5,000 clarifying questions and come up with another 200 other ideas when she is told she cannot do something. However, it is in the questioning that her confidence develops. Sana goes full steam ahead without planning it out, whatever ‘it’ may be. Sometimes the results cause tears and frustration. Other times, incredible masterpieces. Taking risks in one area makes it easier for her to take other risks. In other words, my girls are thinking for themselves.

4.  Budget Cuts

The first time I was told my job no longer existed due to budget cuts, I was petrified of what that meant. The following year, I found myself living and teaching in Colorado. Because of losing my job, I have walked through cave dwellings, watched the Red Sox play in the World Series, and rafted down the Arkansas River. Recently, I experienced the same thing in North Carolina. I find myself in a job with colleagues that lift me up on a daily basis. Most importantly, the friends that I have made in Colorado, Benson, and Wake Forest continue to impact me in ways they will never know.

5.  Scattered Family

We have no relatives in North Carolina. My sister is in Washington state, my brother in Georgia, and my parents in Maine. Tony’s family is all in Missouri. There are days when it sucks being so far away from my lifeblood. Because Jennifer is out in Washington an hour away from Fort Hood, Sean and several Army buddies will be with family at Thanksgiving. Jamie is a car trip away from us. It will be the first time in many years that we will see him on Christmas. Now to find a way to connect with our parents…

6.  Cancer and Death

Horrible, right? Yes! However, it is in the stormy times we tend to appreciate the people around us that much more. This year a couple of my friends had people close to them die at a young age - expected and not. People close to me have been diagnosed with cancer. In the silence that ensues tragedy, I am reminded of what is right in front of me. It has all caused me to speak up a bit more and let people know what makes them special to me. 

7.   Mirrors and Muscle Pain

I have been a lug since June…until my mirror screamed at me one day last week. “What has happened to the sexy you?! You are starting to look frumpy again. Get your ass out running!” That first day last week, it was a two-mile walk with the dog. Slowly, the running began. Muscles never hurt so good as they whispered to me, “Remember how good you feel when you eat healthy…” Healthy eating, exercise, and lots of water. I am on my way to getting my sexy back.

8.   Perspective

Upon first glance at everything on my list, it is negative. If I chose to focus on that side of it, I would be down in the dumps all the time. Instead, I have discovered the joy of looking deeper.