Today is Thanksgiving in the United States, and this year the holiday is unlike any that I’ve seen in my lifetime. With COVID-19 cases at an all-time high (the U.S. is recording an average of 145,000 cases a day), the Center for Disease Control is recommending that families do not celebrate the holiday with anyone outside their home.
But instead of reflecting on the negative and the sadness that many are experiencing this year, I wanted to focus on being thankful for what I have.
I am thankful for my wife and children who have been great sources of support during the pandemic. Being in a household where there are competing priorities and a need for all of us to work and attend school virtually has been challenging.
Yet each member has risen to put their own spin and charm on being at home (and on being mindful of others in the household).
I look back at my childhood and the problems I had and am amazed. As a kid, I couldn’t see the future and had no idea that I would marry and have children. I couldn’t see past the struggles that I dealt with on a day-to-day basis.
And I think about that and wonder: Because life has been hard and complex due to my dysfunctional upbringing, I’ve looked toward the negative side of events—always preparing for the worst.
But life is filled with joy, hope, and love if we worked toward it.
While you’re going about your day, take a moment to thank someone in your life for their friendship, support, and love that they’ve given to you.
By reaching out to others and sowing happiness, you will be creating a new and healthy path for not only yourself but for those in your life.
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