November 2004

Happy Thanksgiving! I love this holiday. No, not so much for the turkey and family, although that is all good, too. But I love this holiday because of the idea of giving thanks.

I think that this is an often over-looked concept. We may say thank you to whomever it is we pray to, but we often don’t say thank you to each other. When is the last time that you thanked your partner for choosing to stay with you? Now, this doesn’t mean that we debase ourselves or put someone on a pedestal, but is a definite choice to stay with someone. We may not always be the easiest person to live with, so say thank you and that you appreciate the choices that your partner has made.

When was the last time you thanked your children for being part of your life? Obviously they do not have the same kind of choices that your partner has. But it is still important that your children know how much you appreciate them and love them.

When is the last time you thanked yourself for all the hard work that you have done, for all the healthy choices that you made? Do not end that statement with a “but” or “except”. Just thank yourself, knowing that you still have more growing to do!

Thank your friends and family. Thank the people that you have contact with on a daily basis. We all deserve it. It feels good to say it and hear it.

I would like to thank you all for reading this column. And wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!