Thanksgiving: A Choice In The Midst of Chaos
Follow any newsfeed online, pick up any newspaper, watch any televison news channel or talk with your associate in the next cubicle and negative news is rampant. Economic meltdown, foreign wars, Jihad, terrorism and a devastated housing market can consume and overwhelm us. It is so easy to get wrapped up in our collective and individual problems and fears, real and perceived, rather than focusing on our true blessings.
I can choose to focus on my shrinking pocket book or I can focus on the unbounded, joy I feel when my three year old grandduaghter climbs on my lap, throws a blanket over our heads and says, nose to nose in the dark, "Hide Grandpa, Hide!, so the green eyed monster doesn't get us." I can choose to focus on the devastation of the local real estate market or instead focus on the awe, wonder and thankfulness I feel for my wife's determnation and successes in recovering from three devastating strokes.
I received an e-mail this morning from a sender called "Mrs. Real Estate". "Mrs. Real Estate"? "Mr.s Real Estate" it turns out is the wife of George Paukert who for years billed himself as "Mr. Real Estate". I had subscribed to George Paukert's e-mails years ago and her e-mail was a Happy Thanksgiving message. She indicated that George wasn't with us this year and it became apparent that George had passed away. She included the letter "Gratitude" that George had sent out last year. His letter was eloquent and thought provoking. It was the genesis of this blog post. I include it here for your enjoyment.
Despite all of the negative news my life is good. Instead of focusing on life the way that it was or the way I feel it should be, I promise that today I will truly appreciate my many blessings and choose to be thankful. Thankfulness is a choice. Today I choose to be Thankful! I am blessed!
Choose to be Thankful!
Be Blessed!
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