Ah, the age-old Thanksgiving question: What are you thankful for?
Whenever I'm asked by my extended, how-are-we-even-related relatives at Thanksgiving dinner, I usually have no frickin' idea what to say. "My family" or "my friends" or "the opportunity presented to my by my family" or "the great times and support I feel from my friends" just doesn't seem like really enough to me. I am thankful for all of those things, but we are at a time in the world where every horrible thing that happens scrolls by our faces while reading the news online or flashes on the TV screen, we can watch and be unaffected observers of so much tragedy. Because of this, I feel like I have so many things to be thankful for that it is simply impossible to put it all into words.
That is not to say that I should feel guilt for being in this privileged position; you just can't control that, but I think on a day like Thanksgiving, it is important to acknowledge your privilege and be thankful for the things you don't have to deal with, and really ponder the opportunity and responsibility to help those who do.
Thinking on this, I'm even more thankful and appreciative for little things like being able to run around my yard with my dogs, being able to come home and see all of my family at my house together, or even just being able to feel safe on this holiday. So after Thanksgiving, let's try appreciate what we have and not take anything for granted, because somewhere, someone is struggling for something that was handed to you without you even asking.
