I was reminded yesterday as we celebrated Thanksgiving about so many things I have to be thankful for - and that we all can be thankful for in our lives.  Maybe you had a more poignant Thanksgiving yourself because of our economic times, and all the drama that has unfolded over the past months with our markets, businesses, elections, and even lives.  Nearly everyone I know has been impacted by what has happened - some in small ways, others in huge ways.

It has been a rough year for a lot of people financially and personally - and yet even with the numerous foreclosures, business shut downs and struggles, at our worst we still have it better than most of the world.  I think that for some it has drawn them closer to others - and caused a good sort of dependency and attitude of "together we will make it through!" 

But even at our worst, we have it pretty good.  We do not live in squalor - there are countries that have never seen a flushing toilet.  Most of us do not wonder where our next meal will come from, and most of us have clothing and shelter that would be a grand lifestyle in third world countries.

At the end of our Thanksgiving dinner last night before our dessert, we went around the table to say what we were thankful for - and most everyone had an easy time coming up with things - mostly family and friends.  I was reminded that attitude is a choice and when we come from a place of lack, it's easy to feel sorry for ourselves and our circumstances, instead of looking at the blessings we DO have.

Instead of being depressed or sad about our circumstances, the best remedy for that is to go help someone that is truly suffering.  Help someone who is starving, or cannot move physically or is dying.  That is a quick awakening to us to be thankful that we have moving limbs, we have a place to lie down and sleep inside, and we have our health.

And I was reminded last night of my brother in law who this year will not celebrate with his family, eating and playing around - but instead is struggling to just move his body and respond to commands as he continues to recover from his coma.  Things could be much worse for all of us, that is for sure, and we need to be thankful for our health and ability to do basic things like think, speak, and move.

I find that in most cases, the circumstances we find ourselves or our struggles are largely our own making.  We either made choices that led us astray, did not put focus out on obtaining jobs or see the light or respond in time to circumstances unraveling around us, or have a plan B in place.  We are not victims unless we choose to be. 

I love what one of my fellow ASPs shares - she says simply, "I refuse to participate in a recession or down economy" - and her attitude is not one of denial, it is of finding the positives and being someone that ATTRACTS business.

That has been my attitude as well - why worry about things over which we have no control, and instead find things to be positive about.  It's very easy to wallow in self pity.  I have never been a person to feel sorry for myself - it takes up too much energy to be sad and depressed and there is just too much to live for and be thankful for in life!

I know not all are like me - and some like to go to the dark places for a while - but there has to be a point where people realize that death is part of life, suffering is part of the human experience that helps us grow and get better and have a heart for others, and nothing is impossible - especically with a faith that will see us through. 

As someone wisely said to me, "There is always someone that has it worse that me or you, and someone that has it better - that is life."

Where we put our focus is our choice.  I choose to be positive and happy - and it's not about denying struggles, it's about working through them with the knowledge that it will lead to making me a better person somehow, and I look for the positive life lesson I am supposed to learn from the journey.

- Jennie