Gratitude

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. There are so many reasons for this, whether it is the savory cuisine placed before us every year, or the chance to reconnect with family, it offers an unhurried reflection of life not seen in some other holidays. My wife and I have been traveling to my grandmother’s house in Florida every year since college for Thanksgiving. Now that we have our two children, it is even more special. We have the opportunity to basque in the Florida sunshine, swim in her pool, enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at her country club, and I always get at least one round of golf in with her.

I cherish these moments with my family, and especially my grandmother. Even at 87 years old, she is playing golf 3 days a week and filling the remainder of her time on other pursuits. As sad as it is to say, it won’t always be this way. I am so grateful for having these moments with her now. And yes, it helps to be in Florida for this celebration every year, but there is more to it than that. I always try to think about all I am grateful for this time of year. It would benefit us to do an exercise like this more frequently, but we get lost in the hustle and bustle of life.

I am grateful for my wife, who appreciates me for who I am with my idiosyncrasies, stresses, and hobbies. I am grateful for my parents who have always been so supportive and who do a difficult job of raising grandkids. I am grateful for my two beautiful children who bring such joy and laughter to our lives. They do not know the stresses of life yet, which we could learn a lesson from. They love me no matter how my day has gone. I am grateful for my in-laws who provide needed babysitting and work done around our house. I am grateful for the opportunity to work in a school who is so supportive of students with learning differences and for which school has not always been a joy. I am grateful for the students I teach, who keep me on my toes and remind me how lucky I am every day. I am grateful for the ability to play golf, run, and engage in other athletic endeavors, which keep me grounded and remind me to have fun in life. I am grateful for my faith which reminds me that it is not all about me. I am thankful to live in a country where I can be grateful for such things.

There are so many other blessings in my life, but just acknowledging those that are most important to me has already decreased my stress level and put a smile on my face. This is definitely an exercise worth repeating!