by Olivia Emisar

Created on: November 19, 2010

Being thankful at Thanksgiving is going to be harder for some people than it is for others.  Even the most altruistic among us has to pay recurring bills in an economy that has left many neighborhoods devastated by foreclosures and job losses.

We have seen good friends move away searching for their family’s economic survival.  We have seen friends go through medical nightmares.  We have been under a great deal of stress to keep our own roof over the family’s head.

For those whose year has been similar to what is described above, it may be hard to understand what is there to be thankful for when our lives seem so unsettled.  The fact is that there is much to be thankful for even in days such as these.

Look no further than those gathered around your dinner table and feel the gratitude in your heart for having so much love and trust surrounding you.  No amount of money can buy or sell what’s in your heart and how it makes you feel.

Give a thought and a prayer to those who moved out of your neighborhood to provide a better life for their families.  You have met resilient spirits who will weather and survive adversity regardless of the circumstances.  They can be a source of inspiration with teachable lessons.

Hopefully you have contributed to the local food bank.  Be thankful you were able to be part of the chain that cares about others and does something about their daily plight.  Be thankful that you are that kind of a person.

Be thankful for having a day out of the year that allows you to count your blessings even when they seem hard to find. 

Be thankful for the inevitable opportunities that will come along when the economy turns around completely.  It is inevitable that the current level of dissatisfaction felt around the world is going to engender innovation and a progress we can all benefit from.

Be thankful you have hope, dreams and aspirations for your self and for the future of those sitting around the dinner table.

Be thankful for having four days in a row where you can devote yourself to loving your family without work interruptions.

Be thankful for the people who raise you, taught you how to read, stand up straight and stand up for your self. 

Be thankful for leftovers, football games and sunny days. 

Be thankful that you are doing your best every single day.

Gratitude for big and small blessings are not measured by bank accounts, the car you drive, or the size of your house.  We can all be thankful for a day that puts these thoughts and feelings into perspective.

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