"THANKS" Giving
Well its not "Thanksgiving" day yet back in the states. It is here in Korea where I'm currently stationed. Before I forget, may all of you who celebrate this special occasion find great joy today in your families and loved ones and the memories of those who once touched your lives.
I've been so busy the last few days I haven't had the chance to jot down some notes about the topic of giving thanks. But I have a few moments now so here goes.
First, many years ago I was quite a negative person. I had to "learn" and then practice being a positive, thankful, appreciative person until it became a part of me. I couldn't be happier with the me I am right now. Believe me, there are A LOT of things I don't like about myself, but the one thing I truly am happy for, is my ability to look at the bright side of things.
Every morning when I wake up, I spend just a quick minute laying there thanking my God for all the great things he has done for me. Its ok if you don't believe in one, I think the same exercise of just feeling thankful and appreciative is an empowering thing regardless of whether you're directing it to a higher power, or just letting that positivity out of you to start the day and radiate into the world. Anyway, I thank the man upstairs for family, for friends, for co-workers, for pets, for all the people who came and went from my life who touched me and made me a better person, and for those I've lost, many of whom helped mold me many years ago.
I believe in giving thanks a lot and I believe in being appreciative a lot.
I've got friends who think all this "positivity" stuff is just a fluke or just an act of mine. Some of them ask, "don't you ever have a bad day like the rest of us? What is there to be thankful for then?" I respond with "I've had more bad days than good days on this earth, but if I survive the day, chances are the next might just turn out better, and that is enough for me to have hope to stay positive today." I know, I know, sounds like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. But it isn't.
Friends, our minds and hearts are amazing organs. Our limit for love is sadly equaled only by our limit for hate. I choose love. I choose being thankful. I choose appreciating every breath I take. I personally believe that is the whole purpose of us being here on this earth, to gain, to grow, to experience, to feel some pain, and to love. I have lists and lists of names of people who have touched me. Some literally walked by me and said something uplifting just as I was running out of hope. Some, kept me safe as a little boy. Some, loved me for a season and some love me for a lifetime. I bet you have lists like this as well rattling around in your head.
So on this day that we as Americans focus on giving thanks, I ask you to please consider thanking past your current set of friends, colleagues, and family (you're talking to). Think with great appreciation about all those who have touched your life. You will be empowered and strengthened by it. You see being grateful, being thankful is a win-win. Those you thank or are appreciative to in person are uplifted, but by you truly taking stock in all the good things which have happened in your life, those you have loved, those whom you have cared for, those situations which changed your life, then all that power is yours and only yours to keep. What a cool trade-off for just a little positivity ay?
On this Thanksgiving 2011, I want to thank every single one of you who has been kind enough to read my blog. I am appreciative of all those who have cared or thought of me this year. I wish all of you great health, great success, and most importantly great happiness in your life and in all you are going to do.
I've been so busy the last few days I haven't had the chance to jot down some notes about the topic of giving thanks. But I have a few moments now so here goes.
First, many years ago I was quite a negative person. I had to "learn" and then practice being a positive, thankful, appreciative person until it became a part of me. I couldn't be happier with the me I am right now. Believe me, there are A LOT of things I don't like about myself, but the one thing I truly am happy for, is my ability to look at the bright side of things.
Every morning when I wake up, I spend just a quick minute laying there thanking my God for all the great things he has done for me. Its ok if you don't believe in one, I think the same exercise of just feeling thankful and appreciative is an empowering thing regardless of whether you're directing it to a higher power, or just letting that positivity out of you to start the day and radiate into the world. Anyway, I thank the man upstairs for family, for friends, for co-workers, for pets, for all the people who came and went from my life who touched me and made me a better person, and for those I've lost, many of whom helped mold me many years ago.
I believe in giving thanks a lot and I believe in being appreciative a lot.
I've got friends who think all this "positivity" stuff is just a fluke or just an act of mine. Some of them ask, "don't you ever have a bad day like the rest of us? What is there to be thankful for then?" I respond with "I've had more bad days than good days on this earth, but if I survive the day, chances are the next might just turn out better, and that is enough for me to have hope to stay positive today." I know, I know, sounds like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. But it isn't.
Friends, our minds and hearts are amazing organs. Our limit for love is sadly equaled only by our limit for hate. I choose love. I choose being thankful. I choose appreciating every breath I take. I personally believe that is the whole purpose of us being here on this earth, to gain, to grow, to experience, to feel some pain, and to love. I have lists and lists of names of people who have touched me. Some literally walked by me and said something uplifting just as I was running out of hope. Some, kept me safe as a little boy. Some, loved me for a season and some love me for a lifetime. I bet you have lists like this as well rattling around in your head.
So on this day that we as Americans focus on giving thanks, I ask you to please consider thanking past your current set of friends, colleagues, and family (you're talking to). Think with great appreciation about all those who have touched your life. You will be empowered and strengthened by it. You see being grateful, being thankful is a win-win. Those you thank or are appreciative to in person are uplifted, but by you truly taking stock in all the good things which have happened in your life, those you have loved, those whom you have cared for, those situations which changed your life, then all that power is yours and only yours to keep. What a cool trade-off for just a little positivity ay?
On this Thanksgiving 2011, I want to thank every single one of you who has been kind enough to read my blog. I am appreciative of all those who have cared or thought of me this year. I wish all of you great health, great success, and most importantly great happiness in your life and in all you are going to do.
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