I Am Thankful

I came across this piece of writing recently (author unknown) and really liked the message it sends.


I Am Thankful


For the wife,

Who says its hot dogs tonight.

Because she is home with me and not out with someone else.

For the husband,

Who is on the sofa being a couch potato.

Because he is home with me and not out at the bar.

For the teenager,

Who is complaining about doing dishes.

Because it means she is home and not on the street.

For the taxes I pay,

Because it means I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party,

Because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

For clothes that fit a little too snug,

Because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work,

Because it means I am out in the sunshine.

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that needs fixing,

Because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government,

Because it means I have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot I find at the rear end of the parking lot,

Because it means I am capable of walking.

And I have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge heating bill,

Because it means I am warm.

For the lady behind me on the bus listening to her iPod and singing off key,

Because it means I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing,

Because it means I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,

Because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning,

Because it means I am alive.

“The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than those who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” –H.U. Westermayer

One of the reasons us as Jews don’t make a big to do about the holiday of Thanksgiving is because for us, Thanksgiving, is every day.

The abundance of good we are all lucky and blessed with to have in our day to day life is immeasurable.

Just as important as it is to praise the obvious good in our lives it is equally if not more important to take notice and appreciate the not so obvious good.

Take five minutes today to think about that. Granted, you’ll walk away feeling a whole lot better about your life :)