We are in the midst of the holiday season. As time moves on, it seems we suddenly hop from Fourth of July, slide into Halloween, then jump into Christmas, stopping long enough to eat a delicious Thanksgiving meal before we open those presents under the tree. I’ve been guilty of thinking too little about the purpose of Thanksgiving, but as I “mature” (I didn’t say getting old, mind you), I realize how blessed I am. Nowadays I don’t limit it to a day a year.
I’ve adopted an attitude of gratitude that I try to practice on a daily, sometimes a minute by minute basis. Achieving and maintaining an attitude of gratitude is something that must be done on purpose. Yes, most would agree that we have a lot to be thankful for. After all, many of us live in comfortable homes, wear nice clothes, and have reliable transportation. We have no shortage of clean water or healthy food. We have access to quality healthcare and education, and basically live a good life with a lot of freedom, safety, and security. While it’s easy to take all this for granted, and focus on the opposite of what we DO NOT have, millions across the globe live without basic necessities.
I visited Argentina once on a choir/orchestra tour. I was amazed at the splendor of the city, but appalled at the great poverty that existed in the midst of great wealth. When I returned home, I wanted to kneel down and kiss the ground, grateful for everything I take for granted.
