Here in the United States, we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving — one of my very favorite holidays, with all of our family traditions. My good friend sent an email that resonated with me, and I wanted to share it here. I don’t know the original attribution.
I am thankful for…
…the mess to clean up after a party
because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
…the taxes I pay
because it means that I’m employed.
…the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means I have enough to eat.
…the child who is not cleaning his room, but is watching TV
because that means he is at home and not on the streets.
…the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking.
…all the complaining I hear about our government
because it means we have freedom of speech.
…that lady behind me in synagogue who sings off key
because it means that I can hear.
…lawns that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
…my huge heating bill
because it means that I am warm.
…weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
because it means that I have been productive.
…the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
because it means that I am alive.
…Finally, for too much email
because it means that I have friends and family who are thinking of me.
Whether or not you are celebrating this holiday, having an attitude of thankfulness is a big factor in the level of happiness you will experience in your life. I, for one, am grateful to have a large number of people who care about what I have to say. Thank you for reading and for giving me your time and attention. (I will try to be more regular about posting!)
Photo Credit: controltheweb
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Nedra helps nonprofits and public agencies create positive change on health and social issues through social marketing and transmedia storytelling strategies at Weinreich Communications since founding the company in 1995. She helps organizations make a difference for the populations they serve by strategically designing programs that draw on state-of-the-art behavior change techniques, digital media approaches and the power of stories. 
Where I come from, we don’t have anything like Thanksgiving. That and turkey isn’t really a specialty. But we do like Christmas a lot. We have something called the Noche Buena where we have a feast on Christmas Eve and wait for the clock to strike midnight. Nevertheless, I believe that the act of being thankful is something that transcends all cultures and holidays. And we should also be thankful for the negative things because these somehow make us stronger and shape us into the person we are destined to be. Happy holidays!