Giving Thanks

As I was riding my bike, I had plenty of time to think the other day.  Used to be when I walked or ran, ah the good old days, I would come up with many of the topics I write about here.  These days I find myself listening to a book or a podcast instead of letting my mind wander.  Riding my bike, I don't listen to anything other than the cars approaching for safety reasons.  I think I miss the days of just not listening to anything while walking or just listening to music and letting my mind wander.  Anyway, my brain went immediately to the obvious, Thanksgiving is upon us and so I just started a mental list of things I am thankful for, not just in November, but always.  Every November I consider writing a daily blurb about something I am thankful for and year after year by the end of the month I have written zero blurbs, in spite of thinking about them.  Follow through is not my strong suite.  So this is me, following through a bit and wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope you have many things in your life to be thankful for.  And, this list may make it seem like life is just peachy all the time but rest assured, it is not and I am thankful for those not so wonderful times and things, because without them the good would not be possible. 

I am thankful for:

My faith.  My faith is my foundation, my compass, my joy, the place I go for comfort, a place to leave my fears, worries and troubles.  I am thankful to have that in my life because without it I would be lost.

My family.  I am lucky enough to be part of a loving and supportive family and to hopefully have created the same.  My parents were two very special people who taught us right from wrong, and showed us how to love and live.  I often wondered, when I was a child, why I was born into the family I was born to, in the place I was born, and in the time I was born.  I had trouble sleeping when I was young, so I had a lot of time to think!  But why am I the person I am, in this place and this time?  I could have been born to different people, in a different country under very different circumstances.  Of course, then I wouldn't be me. My family is a gift given to me.  I have 4 great kids, 7 beautiful grandkids, 4 awesome siblings and countless extended family members who make life beautiful.  

My husband.  Again, I would not be the person I am without him in my life.  He is loving, caring, someone who pushes me out of my comfort zone, supportive, occasionally annoying, a lot of fun, someone who makes me laugh, full of random hairbrained ideas, curious and seeking knowledge, and always game for whatever I want to do!

My health.  As I was riding my bike enjoying the breeze and the nice fall day, I was very thankful to be moving.  Having experienced a few setbacks with broken bones or that pesky ACL surgery I found myself immobilized, I vowed to never take my health for granted.  Being humbled by injuries opened my eyes to what many people face every day.  Through my recoveries I am so very thankful for the gift of my health and my body.  It certainly isn't perfect, but it is the only one I have, and it is still working.

My friends.  Many people have come into and gone out of my life.  I have friends I learned from, friends who inspired me, friends who have supported me and who I have supported, friends I laughed with, cried with, traveled with, worked with, shared secrets with, argued with, gotten into mischief with, competed with, prayed with, and sat quietly together with and I am thankful for each and every one of them.  They have all made my life rich.

My home.  I am blessed to call two places home.  Home is where I can just be me.  Home is the everyday routine and stability.  

Finally, I am thankful for all of my life experiences, the good the bad and the ugly.  What a lot of living we have done and hopefully still have to do!  

What are you most thankful for?