One of many

Today in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving, that one day a year when we stop and recognize all blessings bestowed.  There's turkey and pumpkin pie and family and friends involved much of the time.  It signals, in a tangible way that fall is now upon us and we need to brace for winter, which is but 2 months away. For most of us it is a holiday like many others; going through the traditions passed on from generation to generation.  For others it is a day like any other, spent like every other, which in reality, it should be.

I'm the first to jump on the turkey/pumpkin pie bandwagon, so I'm not advocating against that.  What I refer to is rather the purpose of the day.  The act of 'giving thanks'.  It's very easy to take one day and heap all our thanks into a pile, acknowledge them and move on, done for another year.  The point is we should be thankful every day of the year and acknowledge the fact that we're still here to do so.  And that is very easy to say, but hard to pull off.  It is difficult to be thankful for the trials and tribulations we all experience one way or another, and yet we should.  If for no other reason than to make us stronger or wiser somehow.   I am a wallower by nature, so this comes very hard for me.  When things get tough, I retreat and feel sorry for myself.  This is not something I am proud of; I fight that reaction constantly and fail miserably much of the time.  Yet, every once in awhile I'll snap out of it and recognize the futility of the emotion that has always stalled me in life.  I may not be able to change the circumstances I'm faced with, but I can change how I react to them.  Sometimes, even the act of writing stuff down gives insight and helps keeps life in perspective. 

I wish it was easier to bare our souls more... there is too much judgement in our society to pull that off without wounds inflicted.  It would be interesting to know that many of us are probably in the same general boat and yet admitting that somehow brands us as 'losers' or 'less thans'.  It's a pity really, cause those who struggle often have the best life stories... the best lessons learned.  I have to remember that when I feel myself grinding down; what story will this tell in the end?   It's a mystery.

May today be just one of many days of thanks throughout the year.  May our collective pain be used for great growth.  May our stories be real.