The Act of Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving, world! i've been sitting here contemplating what i would like to write about this day, and in the meantime i've received three "happy thanksgiving" mass texts and watched about 20 people update their statuses on facebook with something along the same lines. while i don't doubt that all of these people mean what they say, there is something less sincere about reading a short message that is sent to you and all of their other "facebook friends" or numbers in their phones.

so i'm going to stay away from the phone, stay away from the facebook updates and limit my media expression to this blog alone. if you don't get a text or a status update from me, which i highly doubt you will, don't think it doesn't mean i'm not grateful for you in my life. although today is the recognized "day to give thanks," i would rather show you through-out the year how much you mean to me than let you know out of a feeling of obligation once a year.

don't take this the wrong way - i will be celebrating all i have to be grateful for today. and that is quite a lot because despite its ups and downs, life is truly beautiful! under this umbrella of life, what is it that i am thankful for?

i am thankful for where i live.

i have a roof to live under and i do not want to devalue that fact. but i am so grateful for that roof to be here, in Ventura. how many places in the world can you go out on the evening before thanksgiving and sit on the beach, with the islands clear in the distance, and watch the sun set over the ocean? absolutely breathtaking.

and not only am i thankful for living here in Ventura and in California, but i am grateful to live in a country where i am blessed with so many freedoms and so many opportunities. i am blessed to live a life of where individuality is not only and option, but encouraged.

i am thankful for all of the people who have impacted my life.

positive and negative influences alike, to those who have hurt me and those who have lifted me back up, all have helped me grow and made me into the person that i am today. i am grateful for the strength you have brought forth in me, the perseverance you have instilled in me, and the inspiration you have given me.

i am thankful for a life of relative comfort.

i live a life where i am lucky to have food on the table, a bed to sleep in, clean water to drink, means of cleanliness, and clothing to wear. i work to have money in my pocket and i attend an outstanding university so that i may heighten my education and work toward a good future for myself.

i am thankful for my family and my close circle of friends.

i am lucky to receive love from so many people in my life and for that reason i am able to give love in return, to them as well as others. the backbone of my being, i will not go through and name these people because i treat them in a way that they should know who they are. or at least i try to.

on this Thanksgiving, as well as everyday through-out the year, remember those who are not as blessed as you are. remember those who struggle to make it through each day and those who sacrifice some of their blessings to ensure that you are able to lead the life you do. "Remember it's not what we say about our blessings but how we use them."

remember that nothing in life is permanent, so you should never take anything for granted. be thankful today, but do not let this be your only day of giving thanks.