'Tis the Season for Thanks

The holiday season is in full swing as we approach Thanksgiving this next week. The commercials on TV are relentless, holiday lights are strung across the town, and you’ve been seeing Christmas decor in every store since AT LEAST Halloween. As we get closer to Thanksgiving, between black Friday opening early Thanksgiving Thursday, and Christmas countdowns being slammed in your face, it’s not hard to see that the true message of this important day are blurred. Is this what the world has come to? Moving quickly from one holiday to the next before we’ve fully absorbed each holiday? I can’t help but shake my head. As we approach this holiday I’m racking my brain to see how the world around me is celebrating their blessings. This Thursday is about giving Thanks, but are we actually thankful for all that we have or are we just going through the motions?
 
I have kept a book for the last few months of all the things that I am thankful for. It was started this summer originally to help develop a more positive outlook on my life. Guess what, it worked! I may not write in it each day but I work to make sure that I acknowledge all that I have been blessed with. In this little Thanks journal it holds some very surface ideas and it also gives site to emotional things I am thankful for.
 
Ten most important things I have found I am thankful for:

1. My Family: I am thankful to have been blessed by my family. I have such loving and supportive Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, and of course my Little Family. Growing up in a large family was great! It was like having built in friends and served as the best birth control available (sorry Mom and Dad). My parents are amazingly supportive of my life today and my Little Family. I am so blessed by my little family, My boyfriend, his (our) daughter, and myself. I’m so thankful to have been blessed with her most especially. She has taught me a lot about myself I didn’t know before. I’m thankful for how loving she is towards others, it was very welcoming coming into this home. My little family doesn’t stop there either, I have been fortunate enough that my boyfriend’s family has welcomed and loved me as well. I have new friends within his family and they have greatly supported our relationship. I am so thankful to have been blessed with a heart to not only receive love, but to love unconditionally for all of my family members.
2. Thankful for my Friends: I have friends near and far who have been by my side. Just as my family has supported me, my friends support me as well. I have chosen friends who can uplift and encourage my life only. I have let go of many toxic friendships because I have found they didn’t serve purpose in my life. I am thankful that I have friends I can share everything with, without the fear of them thinking differently of myself or the choices I make.
3. Thankful for my Health: Although I’m greatly out of shape right now (yikes!), I have recently started working out again. As I feel my lungs burn and my muscles ache it makes me acknowledge how truly lucky I am to be blessed with great health. I’m thankful to have not only my physical ability to run, jump, hear, see, and general well being, but also I have been blessed with the gift of mental health. I am able to make clear decisions and think for myself! I am thankful for each day that I wake up and that my family members are all strong and healthy too.
4. Thankful for Faith: I grew up in a home with a strong sense of Faith. I have carried that Faith with me beyond my Parents home. I am thankful that I grew up knowing that there is a God and that everything in my life will be OK. I believe in the power of prayer and a higher being. I believe that with Faith anything can be done and that my actions each day are guided by Faith.
5. The Roof over my head: I am blessed to live in a home on a farm I LOVE. My life is beautiful! It is filled with people and animals we love, we have food on our table each day, and most days we fill our home with laughter and sweets :) We love our petting zoo! Cows, Mini Pig, Dogs, Kittens, Hedgehog, Chickens, Bunny, everything! The more we have the more thankful we are even with all of the hard work involved. I’m so thankful to have a home while many others are less fortunate. I’m thankful for the stability and support system found between my family members here.
6. Thankful for my Job: “what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career.”- Thanks Taken. Just Kidding. But really, it has been easy to transition into my career and I’m so thankful for my job. I’m blessed to be able to have the skills I do to be successful in my work. I am thankful to be able to provide for myself and family. I am thankful that although I have a job, it does not compete with my family time.
7. Thankful for the experiences that have led to today: I have made many choices that have led to where I live, my career, and my family today. Some of them were very painful experiences but they helped me grow as a person in the end. I am thankful that I can now see how everything shaped my life today. I am thankful that I am a strong individual with the ability to overcome obstacles. I am blessed by the experiences although some may not be pleasant, there are some very memorable times as well. The last few months I have forced myself to let go of a lot of control and just let life be. To enjoy to ride! It is still a constant struggle for me, but I am learning to embrace each new experience as it is presented.
8. I’m thankful to be HAPPY: This is a luxury many people lack. I am so thankful to be excited for my life and the direction it is going. I am Happy!​
9. I’m thankful to have adventures: I have been lucky to have the blessing to not only travel, but also the blessing of adventure in learning. I have explored many new places. I have witnessed many beautiful sunsets, sites, and activities. Although I love exploring I have been thankful with the desire to want to come home and sleep in my own bed afterwards! My favorite things to do while exploring include snorkeling (even though I’m deathly afraid of sharks!), sightseeing, and trying new foods. While living in the Country it was essential that I start learning new trades to entertain my time. I’ve tried my hand in many new activities since living here so far. Some include gardening, power tools, skeet shooting, cooking, parenting, hunting, farm animal tending, homemaking, etc. I’m thankful for my new skills. These new skills have taught me patience, something that does not come easily to me. Growing up as a city girl I never imagined that I would prefer the farm life now.
10. I’m thankful that my life isn’t boring: There is always, always, always, something to be thankful for. There is always, always, always something going on in my life that is exciting or new. I am so thankful to live a life outside of boredom and routine. My boyfriend and I constantly say to one another how lucky we are! Our life is full of fun and love. We have been blessed with a great life full of opportunity​​​​

​I am grateful for this next Thursday that I get to spend with Danny's family in our home. I will continue to keep my Thanks Journal beyond just one day a year. I have witnessed first hand how taking note of all that I'm thankful for has had a positive effect on my life. This Thanksgiving, instead of rushing through Thursday onto Christmas take a minute to find what you are Thankful for in your life. Take a moment to look around Thanksgiving at your loved ones and feel the blessings around you. Really look around and see how blessed your life is. Be Happy!