What I'm Thankful For

This past September, I went on a boat ride with my church members. It was quite a relaxing outing. One of those ahhhhh moments. Having been burned out from temping for practically a year, it was what I needed to get my mind off the fact that I was still without a full-time job and having to temp in a position with a supervisor who acted like the devil. I hadn’t expected to get much out of the boat ride. After all, it wasn’t the Odyssey - but it was quite exhilarating. Even when the tide got testy, splashing sprays of water in my eyes and nose, I enjoyed it. I even took my Shirley Temple ringlets out of my hair clip and enjoyed the wind in my hair, feeling like Rose in Titanic.

There was nothing fancy about the ride, we passed the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials and the Washington monument - all monuments I’ve seen a thousand times riding on the subway. But it was a refreshing reminder of why it’s good to get out and do new things. Why we shouldn’t get comfortable in our “routine.” Because in this era of terrorists attacks, 4-minute dating and reality TV, we have to remember to stop and smell the roses – or in this case, the river water.

Now that it's winter, I really miss being able to take a nice boat ride or stroll through the park. And although I'm enjoying the holidays with the decorated homes and shop windows that come along with it, I definitely look forward to the spring, when everything looks alive and beautiful. I'm not one to complain about the weather much - accept when waiting for a bus or subway train to arrive, but I love the energy that spring brings. I am however making an effort to be more thankful for the winter because without it there wouldn't be icicles or snow angels, or the holidays that bring people together - which I cherish not because of the gifts but because I am blessed to have my family members alive and well with me.

So instead of griping about the weather and traffic delays and not having enough money for holiday gifts, I'm choosing to focus on the fact that God has granted me another day, week and year on earth, because things could always be worse, as those in Iraq and victims of natural disasters unfortunately know all to well. I'm going to thank God for every day that I am still here, alive and safe, and that my mother, father, sisters, brother and nieces and nephews, cousins, and treasured friends are all here for me to kiss and hug through the holidays even though bad weather and political madness may come with it.

Ministers and other Christians will say to thank God even for the hard times in life, and I am working to adopt that philosophy because the way I see it is I can be here dealing with crazy people, bad weather and difficult situations, and keep on keepin' on, or I could be like others I’ve heard about in the news, dead and gone. It’s a bit morbid way of thinking maybe, but I don’t see it that way. I see it as taking the focus off the hardships, and staying focused on the blessings that I sometimes overlook but that when I really stop and think, am so fortunate and thankful to be given.