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Give Thanks–and Be Rich

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Thanksgiving is upon us.  And I like to celebrate that each year by recounting the many things I have to be thankful for.

This has been a particularly difficult year for my family.  My father passed away in March after a long illness, my siblings and I moved my mother into an assisted living facility, and then we emptied and sold the family home of 56 years.  And throughout all of this, I was dealing with a significant injury to my left knee.  It was a lot.  Really a lot.  And you might wonder why I would have anything to be thankful for at all.  But I honestly do.

I lost my dad this year, but I’m so grateful that his sharp mind is no longer trapped in a body that was failing. And I’m thankful that he was able to share his wisdom with me for many years, and those lessons will move forward with me throughout the rest of my life.

My mom is no longer able to live on her own, but she is still able to have at least some semblance of independence in her assisted living facility.  I’m grateful that she was willing to make that move, and I’m so thankful that she is receiving excellent care.  And as a bonus, she is near me now, so I can visit her nearly every day.

It was bittersweet to empty and sell the home I grew up in.  It was a lot of exhausting work.  And it was heart-wrenching to part with the physical location of so many memories.  But I’m grateful that a new family will now be able to build memories in the home I loved so much.  And I have to say I’m more than a little thankful that I no longer have to worry about the maintenance of a house 100 miles away from my current home.

My knee injury was painful, and frustrating, and brought a sudden halt to any plans I had made to focus on physical activity this year.  I had to deal with crutches, and physical therapy, and ultimately with surgery, and then a cane.  But I’m grateful that I was able, over time, to get my knee to the point where it is almost normal again.  I may not be running any marathons, but I’m confident that I’ll be able to resume more rigorous activity after the new year.  It could have been so much worse.  It could have stopped me from being able to take on the tasks that were needed around the situations with my parents.  I’m very thankful that my knee didn’t stop me from being where I needed to be.

These were only a few of the countless obstacles I faced this year (2023 has definitely not been a favorite).  And each one of them taught me a lot about being appreciative of what I have.  I have a roof over my head.  I have enough money to buy food.  I have solid transportation.  I have a husband to share my adventures with.  I have two cats who love me unconditionally.  I have a career that provides me with the most incredible intrinsic rewards.  If you were to look at my bank account balance, you would never describe me as rich.  But a wise friend once told me that there are two ways to be rich.  One is to have everything you want.  The other is to want everything you have.  And by that standard I am very rich.

Be thankful.

Being Rich

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This week most of the United States takes a pause to celebrate the things we are thankful for.  And while I’m definitely grateful for turkey and pie, there are so many more things that make me grateful for what I have.

My family is just as dysfunctional as anyone’s.  My sister and I don’t see eye to eye politically.  My brother and sister don’t particularly like my husband.  My parents don’t manage well when things are different in any way from how it’s always been done.  In short….it’s a bit chaotic.  But we’re all going to be together on Thursday.  It’s been a couple of years since we’ve all gathered over a Thanksgiving turkey, and I’m really looking forward to how we will put our own kind of fun into the family dysfunction.  I’m very grateful that after a couple of years apart, we actually will be able to gather together safely.

My house is small.  It needs a good cleaning as well as quite a few repairs.  But it’s cozy and meets my needs perfectly.  When I’m there with my husband and our cats, I know that I’m truly home.

My cars are old.  They’re far from perfect.  But they do the jobs they are intended for without fail.  My Prius has 184,000 miles on it, but it still regularly gets 40 miles to the gallon or more.  My Subaru is closing in on its 10th birthday, but it’s always ready to tackle snow or mud or a camping trip to anywhere.

I’ve had the same job for almost 19 years.  It’s not always perfect.  I haven’t advanced my career in a very long time.  But that is by choice. I love what I do.  I can’t imagine doing anything else for a living.  How many people get to spend their entire career helping people to achieve their dreams?

A wise friend once told me that there are two ways to be rich.  One is to have everything you want.  The other is to want what it is you have.  And this week as we celebrate the things we are thankful for, I feel very rich indeed.

Think about what you have.  Think about how you love what you have.  And have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Enjoy feeling rich.

 

Giving Thanks and Being Rich

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We’re heading into the weirdest Thanksgiving of our lifetimes.  Traditionally Thanksgiving means traveling, getting together with extended family, and rehashing the joys of the year over a lovingly prepared feast. But in this time of global pandemic everything is different.  Travel is discouraged.  Gathering with anyone from outside your household is strongly discouraged.  The year has given us so much to complain about that it’s hard to remember to be thankful.  Even my favorite Thanksgiving activity of carefully reviewing the newspaper sale ads for Black Friday shopping won’t be happening this year.

In this strangest of years, however, it is important to reflect on the things we have that we are grateful for.  I have a roof over my head.  I have a loving (and hilarious) husband to share my quarantine with.  I have three cats who amuse me with their antics and love me unconditionally.  I have a car to take me safely to where I need to go.  I have amazing friends that I stay connected with by telephone and social media.  I have a job that I absolutely love doing.  I have hobbies that I enjoy keeping me entertained.  I have access to good healthcare if I need it.  I have the conveniences of the 21st century to make sure that I am able to do my job and acquire groceries and other necessities while still staying safe.

2020 has been quite a year…and we still have more than a month to go.  But it has helped me to become very aware of what is important.  A dear friend once told me that there are two ways to be rich.  One is to have everything you want.  But the other is to want what it is you have.  By that standard I am very rich indeed.  And I will spend this holiday giving thanks for that.

What are you thankful for this year?  I hope it makes you rich, just like I am.

How To Be Rich

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A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend a concert that included a set from one of my favorite artists, Sheryl Crow.  And she played a song that I quote all the time, “Soak Up the Sun.”  This is a favorite of mine, not just because it’s a catchy tune, but because I love its message.

There are two ways to be rich.  One is to have enough money to be able to get everything your heart desires.  This one is difficult to achieve.  But the other is easier.  My favorite line from Sheryl Crow’s song is, “It’s not having what you want.  It’s wanting what you’ve got.”  The second way to be rich is to count your blessings and be thankful for the things that you already have.  It’s all about perspective.

I could bemoan the fact that my Subaru is twelve years old.  But instead I’m choosing to be grateful that I have a car that runs well and does what I need.  I could be upset that I’ve been sick a lot recently.  Instead I’m choosing to be grateful that I have good health insurance that I’ve been able to use to get through the illness.

I’m not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination.  But with the help of perspective, my life is quite rich.  “It’s not having what you want.  It’s wanting what you’ve got.”  Take a look at your life.  Count your blessings so you can see just how rich you actually are.  And soak up the sun.