Being Thankful
During this time when we are reflecting on our thankfulness, next week being Thanksgiving, think about those that are in our lives that we are not necessarily kin to, but who could make our lives truly painful and might even be hazardous to our health.
In particular and not limited to this list might be the following: waiters/waitresses (never under tip especially if you plan on returning to the same eatery), mechanics of any kind, pilots, dentists (you know they can make you beg), and plumbers, ‘cause you’re going to need one at all the wrong times. Feel free to add to this list.
Thankfulness should not be limited to different food groups that grab your gastronomic appreciation. How about inventions? One that hops to mind immediately is that piece of plastic that has to be surgically removed from most men’s hands, the remote control. Being a first born in the pre-remote control era, I thought my middle name was “Change the Channel.”
Not actually having a middle name, I welcomed this addition and the power imparted to me. Of course, we probably only had three channels back then, so it was a short trip. Imagine how exhausted the “Change the Channel” child would be today when we have 700-800 channels.
Being a very thankful person is important as it gives things and us perspective. Adventure, seeing the world, eating breakfast in Venice, Italy and lunch in Paris, France in one day, the thrill of hearing the squeal airplane tires make when landing, getting a good report from a biopsy, eating an order of McDonald’s french fries, having your cat responding to his/her name instead of completely ignoring you.
Not to wax poetic, but everyone has their individual thankful items. Say when you arrive at a restaurant just as they are closing and they let you eat anyway. Finding some money in your coat pocket you haven’t worn since last winter. Still getting a lump in your throat when you watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” and ZuZu Bailey says, “Teacher says every time a bell rings an angel gets their wings.”
This Thanks Giving give and think of the small things that have big meanings.