“What are you thankful for?” Do you remember when you were in grade school and the teacher would put you on the spot with this question? Were you that kid who would raise his hand sheepishly and say, “I am thankful for turkeys.” Was that your answer? Maybe you were one of the very few who could articulate what you were thankful with complete sentences while you were still in your single-digit years but you were too timid to raise your hand. If that was you. feel free to chime in anytime. Comments are always welcome.
Gratitude is an Attitude
I’m not sure it matters what you are thankful for; I am starting to think that if we’re thankful we are off to a good start. My opinion was validated today by PragerU. If you are unfamiliar with PragerU’s work, I would encourage you to watch this weeks’ video The Key to Unhappiness. For those of you who lean left politically, it will probably give you hives, but it’s a chance that I’m willing to take. Prager sums it up very nicely, if we have a spirit of gratitude, we will be happier; if our disposition is one of ingratitude, we will be unhappy. So my question to you this Thanksgiving, “Are you living a life of gratitude or ingratitude?” If you are unsure, here are a few things that I am thankful for, just to get your juices flowing:
- I am thankful that I survived my run-in with the Dirty Blonde in the desert. There I was, minding my own business…you will have to read that one for your self. I was the victim!
- I am thankful that my son has passed drivers training this year. Even though he will be driving with his learners permit for the next 8-months, I am one step closer to having someone run my errands.
- In a very strange way, I am thankful that I had a little time off work this fall so that I could help my lovely wife with some household chores. She had a difficult year and she was grateful that I could step up to the plate.
- I am thankful that I had a chance to travel and see some amazing sights; the red rocks of Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Forest and, my favorite, the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I thought it would be fun to chronicle my travels and share the pictures. I went so far as naming my travels the “Parkinson’s Sucks Tour” thankfully, that project never got off the ground. Sometimes sarcasm just doesn’t work and that was one of them.
- I am thankful that a friend of mine trained me to shoot at targets that were set up almost a mile away. I have my doubts that any of my shots even landed in the right zip-code, but I am thankful that I had the opportunity to try something very few people get a chance to do. Best of all, I was offered a chance for redemption. He must need a good laugh as well.
- I am thankful for the wonder pup. She never gets mad at me even though she has been the subject of many backhanded comments that she doesn’t fully understand because, well, she’s a dog.
As you can see, my family and I have been blessed. We have experienced God’s provision in ways that words cannot express. He has blessed us with friends and family that are committed to traveling our journey with us. If we didn’t experience our time in the desert, we could never comprehend the bounty that we find in our oasis.
Happy Thanksgiving. See you at Best Buy?
Family time
Some of you may have noticed that I have not been posting quite as often as I have in the past. Please be patient while we get back on track. When life comes at you from all sides, something has to take a back seat.
To repeat a line from Charles Krauthammer who borrowed it from the Terminator who probably stole it from some fraternity brat who ran out to buy a condom, “I’ll be back.”
Thanks for reading, liking and not sharing the last line with your grandmother.
I don’t understand it either Ivy; I don’t know why older people get squeamish when you talk things like pickle relish and mustard. Good point, maybe it does give them gas.
Al and his faithful, and dietetically astute sidekick, Ivy the #wonder-pup.
Hashtag, Ivy?
I’m thankful for meeting individuals like yourself this past year. It has been good for my soul to make friends in the P.D. community. There are very few people I can have a “real” conversation with. People like to give pitty and sympathy thinking they are somehow being kind, however that is not what I want. Sometimes you just need someone to listen that knows exactly what your daily struggles are to feel human.
Thank you AL for your friendship and your unique perspective.
I am humbled by your kind words. We all need people in our lives that understand our daily struggles. You understand mine.
Thanks for putting up with me. Your brother from another mother.