Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Giving Thanks

Occasionally I have my moments of clarity. They don't come often, but when they do, I enjoy them. The world can be such and overwhelming and hectic place sometimes. There are deadlines to meet, places to be, people to please, schedules to make. I was at work today having one of those days. I had my first staffing with the psychiatrist. For those not in the mental health field, this is basically where we, the counselors, present our treatment plans for our clients and the psychiatrist signs off on them as long as she approves. It all went fine, but the process was very hectic to get everything done in time so that I could enjoy my Thanksgiving break.

After staffing, everyone started talking about their plans for Thanksgiving and I started noticing a common theme: Stress! Everyone was stressed out...I have to cook, I have to clean, people are coming over that I can't stand, I have to go somewhere I don't want to be, I hate holidays. Then I started thinking...boy have we lost the point of these holidays. It's become a chore, an obligation, a yearly habitual process that you have to participate in for some people. I know it's not this way for everyone. For our family, we enjoy having our get togethers for holidays. It's nice to sit down and eat together and catch up on one another's lives, but honestly, even for me, Thanksgiving has become just another reason to eat and see family.

So, onto my moment of clarity. My moment of clarity was really as simple as breaking down the word into two separate words and seeing the obvious, it's a day for "giving thanks". We're raised always knowing that Thanksgiving is a day for giving thanks, but I don't think I've ever taken the time to sit and really think about what I'm thankful for. Truth be told, I'm thankful for so much! My list could go on forever. It was rather refreshing to think on this. I'm so used to complaining about what's wrong that it was nice to think about how grateful I am for having such a wonderful family to spend these holidays with, for having 2 paid days of vacation for the first time in my life, for being happy with my job, for writing a book, for having the most amazing girlfriend that a guy could ever ask for, for having a roof over my head, for having the greatest blogger friends in the world, for having good health (for the most part)...

The list could go on and on. There are so many things to be thankful for if you just step aside and take a good look. I hope that each and every one of you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day and cherish the things that you have to be thankful for. Happy Turkey Day!

20 comments:

DesLily said...

aww, Happy Thanksgiving Day baby boy!! I hope you have a great day!

glad to see that word count still growing!

CJ said...

Chris -

Thanks, indeed.

I hope your day is wonderful.

cjh

Robin said...

What a lovely post. Have a wonderful day, Chris!

jenclair said...

It is so true that in the stress, we often forget the things for which we are thankful. Have a good one, Chris!

Carl V. Anderson said...

You said it! Nice job! I am definitely having an attitude of thankfulness this holiday season. Work is stressful and I refuse to let any other part of my life be that way. Have a wonderful weekend!

Stephanie said...

What a beautiful post!! I really hope you and your family have a WONDERFUL day!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Carole McDonnell said...

Happy wonderful loving thanksgiving. -C

Becky said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Chris!

Anonymous said...

i'll raise a glass to that!

and i couldn't agree more with what you say about these holidays being so stressful - they shouldn't be at all!

Anonymous said...

Wishing you the very best this Thanksgiving! :)

J. Kaye

Ana S. said...

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Bellezza said...

Chris, you have such a beautiful spirit. It shines through your blog, and blesses those who read it.

Happy Thanksgiving from another thankful one.

chrisa511 said...

Thanks everyone! I hope everyone is slowly drifting into a turkey induced coma ;) It put a smile on my face to come home to all of these comments!

DesLily said...

Just went to nano!... way to go !! I am proud of you! Those numbers didn't stop!.. you are such a good son! h ehehe...

Carl V. Anderson said...

I really appreciate you and am thankful for you buddie, have a great rest of the weekend.

chrisa511 said...

Deslily, You know every night I sit in front of the computer and think "it's just not going to happen..." and then I start typing and the story picks up again! Hopefully I make it across the finish line. I force myself to write everynight, because I know that if I fall too far behind I'll become too intimidated and give up. So as of now, I'm only about 50 words behind which is nothing! Have a good weekend mama Pat ;)

Carl, I feel the same! You were one of the first friends I met through this blog and the first person who showed me that it is possible to form a friendship with other people without ever having met them. And you introduced me to the Rat! Who I never would have known had it not been for you ;) I'll be reading the rest of those in January. Enjoy the rest of your weekend too! Lots of football!

Debi said...

Those moments of clarity are definitely something to be thankful for, aren't they? This post just made me feel all warm and fuzzy! I try so hard to live my life in a constant state of thankfulness, but of course, I often fail. But just let me say right now how very thankful I am for you!

chrisa511 said...

Debi, You're not alone...I think I constantly fail at being thankful for what I have. It's sad to admit, but it's true. I tend to fall more into the pattern of complaining about the way things are, which helps vent steam, but doesn't do anything in the long run, but helps a little in the moment. I'm not ready to totally dismiss that coping skill ;) But I think we all have more to be thankful for than we realize...it's just hard to see it sometimes. And thanks!! I'm thankful for you too :) The whole "Debi household" in fact...y'all are great!

Carl V. Anderson said...

It is indeed hard to live in that constant state of thankfulness and thanksgiving, but I certainly feel we are the better for trying to live with that as a goal. One of the benefits I have found with blogging and the sharing of the profoundness and mundanities of everyday life with others is that I find myself reminded just how precious life and each day is and that keeps me thankful.

chrisa511 said...

Carl, You're right on with that. I've become much more aware of my friendships not only in the blogging community but among my friends in the non-blogging world too. (non blogging world, hah!) I find myself thinking of others a lot now and not harping on the negative as often...you don't see that too much here. Of course I have my days when I use my blog to vent and I have my days when I vent to those around me, but overall I find myself much more thankful for what I have these days rather than wistful for what I don't have.