Stuff the Turkey…but let’s give thanks

Nice concept Thanksgiving. Feasting, football games, floats, family reunions, four day weekends…a forerunner for Christmas. Thanksgiving has undergone numerous transitions since that small group of Pilgrims disembarked the Mayflower in Plymouth Rock way back in 1620 and went on to celebrate a bountiful harvest thanks to support provided by the Indians through a long and bitter winter. Despite this, the premise remains the same. Gratitude.

Today, over a refreshing Pimms or two and a particularly juicy steak with a couple of dear friends, we got to talking about how fragile life is as we worry for friends dealing with cancer; how fleeting love is for others struggling with relationships; how lonely life can be without that love to take for granted; the world at large as we face a war on terrorism; the challenges of survival for the war torn. Reality check. Our personal problems so ‘first world’ in comparison.

Got me thinking about gratitude. Made a list. Reduced it to top 50. A small but effective way to give thanks for all life has to offer. Thanksgiving indeed. Here’s a starter pack for you…

50 things to be thankful for:

1. Your health the one thing that you should never take for granted
2. Family – warts and all
3. Your loved one – never to be taken for granted
4. Scented candles
5. Dark Chocolate
6. Online shopping – oh yes indeed
7. Books
8. Good quality coffee from your favourite Barista
9. Freshly baked bread
10. Rainy days – especially when you can cosy up under the doona
11. Running water and electricity – something we can so easily take for granted
12. Waking up at 4.00am and realizing that you still have a couple of hours of sleep left
13. Soft pillows and a snuggly bed after a long, tough day
14. Wine
15. Your besties – the ones who are always there for you
16. Deep hugs
17. Spotify for streaming all your favourite music
18. Fresh sheets on Sunday nights
19. A stranger’s smile
20. Beautiful sunsets
21. Squeaky sand
22. Snuggly sweaters
23. Pinterest and Instagram for visual feasting
24. Apple TV for movie and Netflix marathons
25. Avocado on toast
26. Driving on a sunny day with the roof down
27. Skipping the waves on a beach side stroll
28. Breathing crisp fresh air in the mountains
29. Bubble baths – boys love ’em too
30. Your past- because it taught you so much
31. Old photographs
32. Finding a parking spot right away
33. Being able to help others
34. Good hair days
35. Feeling loved and giving love
36. Uncontrollable laughter – the kind that makes your stomach hurt
37. Dancing to ‘Up Town Funk’ around your house
38. A good pair of jeans – the ones that make your butt look really good!
39. Baby chuckles
40. Peanut butter straight off the spoon
41. Comfy pajamas
42. Good, long conversations
43. Blogs
44. Your home – your little haven
45. Childhood memories
46. Art – all kinds of art – the silly stuff the impressive stuff – all of it
47. Rainbows – don’t they always make you smile?
48. The moon and the stars
49. Bad days – because they make you appreciate the good ones that much more.
50. Sunday mornings
51. Bonus! Your future – all the things you have yet to learn, all the places you have yet to discover

Anything you’d add to this list? What’s a small, “everyday” thing that you feel really thankful for?

Love this story? Share the love...