Finding Thanks In A Difficult Thanksgiving

I didn’t feel like I had the best Thanksgiving this year due to the ongoing sufferings I continue to deal with in regards to my current state of health. With that being said, I found myself thinking quite negatively about it until I realized that I needed to take a closer look and find a little thanks in it, because it’s always there, usually just beyond the ego’s perception of things. So here are five of those things I truly have to be thankful for, from this year’s Thanksgiving.

First and foremost, I most definitely had an abundance of food present throughout the entire day, which is something not to be taken lightly given the amount of people presently dealing with starvation on our planet.

Secondly, I had a loved one, my partner Chris, to spend the entire day with, whereas I know of so many people who had to spend the day completely alone given they had no family and no significant other to enjoy it with.

Thirdly, I spent it completely clean and sober from not just alcohol and drugs, but also from all of my former addictions. It truly is a miracle to go through any day, especially a holiday, free from every one of my past toxic outlets and behaviors.

Fourthly, I had a number of phone calls and text messages this year wishing me the best of day, which is in stark contrast to so many years in my past where I heard from next to no one.

And fifthly, although I perceived my health to be relatively poor from where I wanted it to be on this year’s Thanksgiving, I know there were vast numbers of people who suffered far worse with their health on that day. In my case, I was still able to get out of bed and leave the house on my own accord, had all my senses and normal bodily functions working, kept most of my sanity intact, and I did this all free from medication. I’m sure there were many who probably weren’t able to say the same.

Thus, looking at the day now, I had a far better Thanksgiving than my ego wanted me to believe I had, which is precisely why I must continue to do small exercises such as this, as each help me to find thankfulness in life, especially on a day which has that very word in it.

Peace, love, light, and joy,

Andrew Arthur Dawson