Gratitude

I have always believed that one should live in a state of gratitude.  But in today's world, that seems much easier said than done.  Many of us intend to do so, but immediately get caught up in the seemingly easy pitfall of complaint and negativity.  (Facebook much, anyone?)

Well-meaning people are drawn to looking at the glass half-empty in an attempt to fix or improve what's wrong in the world.  They focus on problems instead of what's going right.  They often seek out sad and even horrific stories, not even realizing how much they've allowed negativity to run their lives.  And they fully expect you to get emotionally invested in the sorrow, horror, and outrage, too.

While I believe in counting one's blessings, even that is not enough.  You can count your blessings every single day, and still take so much for granted.  In our modern world, there are millions of things that support us in our daily lives that we don't even think about.

Appliances that turn on at the flip of a switch, designed to make our lives easier.  Craftsmen and manufacturers who make our pots and pans and knives and can openers and cooking utensils of every kind.

An army of people who put on parades and other events every year.  An organization of football players, coaches and promoters that delivers entertaining competition to watch on the TVs made by skilled assembly line employees.  Thousands of people involved in movie production, as the procession of beloved holiday movies begins.

As we cook our Thanksgiving meal this holiday, we may reflect on the farmers who provide the food for our table, but what about the distribution system set up to get those commodities to our grocery stores?  The trucks, the drivers, the roads, the field workers, the machinery and the people who maintain all of those things and keep things running?  The cashiers and baggers and stockers and clerks who attend us?  The interconnectedness of our world, all designed to support our lives, is almost beyond comprehension.

Spouses supporting each other and their families.  An education system supporting our kids and the future.  A network of commerce where everyone is a contributor and a beneficiary.  It's a magnificently complex system that we do so often take for granted.

A refrigerator that keeps food from spoiling.  Freezers to keep meals fresh for weeks.  Cars that run.  Toilets that flush.  Beds that provide comfort and rest.  Furnaces that keep us warm.  It's not just the things, but the people behind all of these things that we rarely think about.

The complexity of our lives should give us pause for all the things we have to be grateful for ... because it just works.  When we think about all the things that make our lives run smoothly, we should be awed by just how much we have to be thankful for.

And while we're contemplating all the thousands of people behind-the-scenes who contribute so much to our lives, we can also apply that to our own families ... our parents, our grandparents, even our great-grandparents ... generation after generation of people who nurtured and fed their families, who supported their growth and welfare, and who made it possible for you to be here today.  The debt of gratitude that we owe to previous generations is also inherent in our acknowledgments.

This is living life in a state of awareness and gratitude, recognizing the efforts and contributions of others in our lives.  While we may never know all of the people who touch our lives from afar, without us ever even meeting them, we can take a moment to acknowledge that we do not live in isolation.  Everyone's labor and enterprise adds to the resources available on the planet, and supporting our own families is how we continue to pay it forward.

We do not have only ourselves to thank for our lifestyles and the things we enjoy.  There are millions of people whose efforts we should appreciate and be thankful for, for making the world run the way it does.

On this Thanksgiving, may your heart be filled with gratitude for all the things we have, and all the people behind it all, who support us so wonderfully through all the days of our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving!



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Enjoy previous seasonal blog posts:

A 2-Page Spread for Thanksgiving Some of our sweetest moments ...	Dessert Not Optional Indulging your sweet tooth is not always a bad thing.
Black Friday It's not just about shopping.  If you do it right, it can be about connecting, too.	Fall Planning Time to make lists ... menus, recipes, family reunions, Christmas cards, Christmas gifts, parties, special events, carving time on the calendar.
Abundancia! Counting our blessings ... may they always be plentiful and abundant.	Taking Care of Holiday Guests Breakfast burritos can make you a winning host!
Recipes for the Season Update your repertoire with some new recipes for Fall!	Bucket List for Fall Taking advantage of everything fall has to offer!
A Different Kind of Thanksgiving Just can't stay out of the kitchen on Thanksgiving!	Pumpkin Pie Have you ever made a pie from fresh pumpkin instead of canned?  Do it!  It's not difficult and so worth it!
It's Baking Season! On your marks, get set ... go!!	A Cabin in the Woods Getting away from it all is a tradition worth keeping
Christmas Notes There's always time to bake Christmas cookies!	Family Heritage Tour A trip back to the old country in search of the abuelos
A Difficult Anniversary A few years ago we lost our Mom.  It feels like it was just yesterday.  The anniversary of a great loss is always hard	It's All About Family Giving thanks and honoring those who came before
My Boy A tribute to Max	Bless the Beasts Spreading goodwill upon the creatures we share this earth with ...
Back to the Farm Fall is the time to head to the farm to pick pumpkins, visit the animals, go on a hayride, and sip hot cocoa by a bonfire	Brandied Fruit  Time to put up your Brandied Fruit to marinate and mellow in time for the Holidays
National Cookie Day December 4th is National Cookie Day!  Let's bake cookies!	Cookie Trays! Our most popular gift and party tray, it's the perfect way to spread the Holiday cheer!
Wine Poached Pears Perfect for fall, perfect for dessert, perfect on a cheese board, perfect in a gallette!	Pear Tart, Part Deux  There's a time for rustic, and a time for elegant.
Crème de Vie The Cream of Life!	A Rustic Tart for Fall A free-form tart or galette with layered wine-poached pears is a perfect dessert for fall.
Baking Cakes Basic baking tips for beautiful layer cakes	The Icing on the Cake Does a bakery really need to make frosted layer cakes?
What's Your Favorite Cake? If only I could pick just one!	Congrats, HWP! Healing Warriors Program received a huge honor, and we were invited to the Pentagon to see it!
Do-Gooders! Ana's non-profit, Healing Warriors Program, gives away a state-of-the-art electric wheelchair!	Donate if you can! Healing Warriors Program, my sister's nonprofit, does very important work for our service members' complete health and wellbeing.