I love the holidays. There is something about this time of year that always makes me hopeful. I think about all the things I have to be thankful for. I think about the opportunities to give to those with less than I have. One of the lessons I've learned in life has been the joy of giving. My workplace participates in adopting families for Christmas. Every Christmas, individuals adopt a family and buy presents for the kids and mom. These are single-parent families struggling to make it. It has given me so much joy to shop for children I don't know. To help people just because they need it. I haven't missed the money, but now I would miss the experience. SAt this time of year, I am humbly reminded of all I take for granted and should remember to be thankful for that many people don't have. I am thankful for a roof over my head (many displaced from Katrina still don't have that), for all the meals I've never had to go without, for the people who love me (sometimes when I don't deserve it), for the people I work with that make me laugh, for a job, for my health.
I forget sometimes how generous life has been to me.
May you all have a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving. Get some sleep, get out your kneepads and helmets because the after Thanksgiving sales (start at 4:30 A.M.) separate the professionals from the wanna be's. Oh yeah, I'm the one that elbowed you last year and took that last Elmo. You lookin' to even the score this year? Meet you at Wal-Mart 4:30 a.m. sharp!
Really, Happy Thanksgiving!
Jann