This week will be a short but important post. As I have written in the last few weeks, our family has had it’s share of struggles this year. I admit that at times I have found it very hard to express gratitude while wallowing in some extreme emotions. Yesterday, I spent part of the day with my mom. We are losing her to Alzheimer’s, but one of the things she repeats often is how lucky we are to still have Dad with us. The day he had his stroke made a huge impression on her. While the details change from day to day in her memory, one thing she vividly recalls is the EMT’s remarking that getting him help quickly was the best thing that could have happened. She must be thinking of this often because she will tell me about it frequently and without prompting. Her life has changed in so many ways and it has been hard to explain at times, but she has hung onto the fact of how grateful she is that she still has her husband of 60 years.
As we head into the holiday season this year, I am going to try and remember at least one thing to be thankful for each day. No better time than Thanksgiving to start this practice! This used to be part of my nightly routine, a habit I got out of for no reason other than I got lazy. Each day there is something to be grateful for and I intend to look for it, rather than dwell on how difficult life can get. My mother is doing this and I believe it helps her get through each day without despairing over what she has lost.
Today I am thankful for all of you who are reading this post. Many of you I know well and I am so pleased to call you my friends and family. I had a chance to catch up with a friend of 35 years last week and I came away with an enormous feeling of joy. I hope everyone reading this takes a moment to recall the joy in your lives each and every day.
No recipe this week as I know many of you are too busy planning a feast to think about anything other than turkey, dressing, squash, potatoes, etc. Eat, drink and be merry and most of all, be thankful!
Happy Thanksgiving!