The moist, delicious turkey with all the trimmings, I must admit, are temptations in and of themselves. But it's not about the food. Yesterday reminds me of the real reasons. 
My daily morning walk with Fisbo, our six pound poodle, brought the first reminder. We are sometimes joined in our walk by a neighbor and her dog who live one street over from us. Seeing each other, we walked together and began catching up on the latest neighborhood news.
That's when she informed me that her husband, who had worked in sales for a local industrial business, had lost his job two weeks ago. After thirteen years with the company, one of the telltale signs of what was only days ahead came at the gas pumps out of town when he was unable to charge a fill-up using his company-issued gas card. Sorry, the boss told him, business is so bad that we just can't keep you on board any more. Good luck!
So, the two of them--in their sixties, never having been late on a payment and now having to start over--are trying to figure out how to cope. I tried to offer words of encouragement. It may not be obvious now, I said to her, but maybe this is opening a new door of opportunity for both of you. She agreed. And I sure want to think so.
Reminder number two is the phone call I get shortly after finishing our walk, informing me that Charles, a friend for the past 25 years or so, had lost his battle with cancer about an hour before my neighborhood walk. His family had kept a low profile on his struggle, and I had learned of his illness only three days earlier. We only saw each other once or twice a year, but we always spoke and caught up on the latest news when our paths crossed. Our circuit of mutual friends finds Charles' death hard to believe, given the healthy lifestyle he tried to lead, and the fact that he was only in his 50's. His son, brother and sister, whom most of us know, as well, are making final arrangements as I write this. 
Reminder number three is the call from a couple Colleen and I have been friends with for many years. The wife needs advice on how to help her father, who has been struggling financially, and who found a Foreclosure letter in his mailbox over the weekend. They, too, need our help. We plan to be there for them, too.
This was all yesterday. One tiny slice of life in one community.
What's the lesson for me?
It's yet another reminder of the struggles people all around us face every single day. It's a reminder, as well, about why I need to be grateful for what I have, instead of moaning about what I wish for. I could fill single spaced, typed pages, front and back, with reasons to be thankful. Can you?
Sure, I get stressed at times. The driver who cuts in front of you on the interstate, the associate who doesn't call back, the no-show buyer and a dozen other things can be enough to make your blood boil sometimes. When those things happen, it's amazing what taking a deep breath and thinking about what's really important can do for you.
It changes my perspective every time.
Life's daily irritations aren't struggles. Not when I see what so many people have to deal with. I plan to keep this in mind.
Tomorrow is a new day.
David
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