Thanksgiving 2012

Wow! The month of November has just flown by this year, and now I find myself almost at the end of the month wondering where in the world it went.

Despite the swiftly passing time, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a minute to write a Thanksgiving post. The trend this year seems to write something different every day that you’re thankful for. I can be into trends sometimes … but in this case I decided the bandwagon wasn’t for me. That’s not to say I’m ungrateful, but sometimes I just have a need to be different is all.

I am grateful for so, so many things! I can’t do my gratitude justice in just one post, whether it by on Facebook or here in my blog. I can give a few highlights. Of course one of the top blessings in my life is my wonderful family. I would not be the person I am today without them. They support me, love me, believe in me and encourage me. And I do my best to do the same for them.

I have wonderful parents, and it’s been a great blessing in my life that I’ve never had to wonder for even one minute if they loved me because I know that they do.

I’m close to all my siblings and love them for who they are and the great example they have always been for me. We’re so close that one’s sorrows or triumphs become our own, and we’re always happiest when we’re together. So many wonderful adventures I’ve had with my siblings.

Along those lines … I sure love my nieces and nephews too. They make my life happy, they amuse me, sometimes they frustrate me and it never ceases to amaze me to see their understanding and depth of knowledge. I kind of like that they love me too because, well, I love them too.

I’m grateful for wonderful friends, a great job, the opportunity to improve, exercise, a healthy body, knowledge of who I am, a strong religious background, being able to ride the train instead of drive to work, a reliable car to get me where I need to go, books (oh the adventures I have with them!) and great conversations. I’m happy to have a wonderful place to live and a very comfy new bed.

I’m grateful for seasons (even if I don’t really love one of them), rain, fresh fruit and veggies, grocery stores with basic necessities, a great gym to work out in, my iPhone (as both a tool and a toy) and the opportunity to develop a new goal for me to work towards. It still scares me a little bit, but I feel like it is the right decision.

I could go on for pages and pages, but I don’t want to bore anyone. Suffice it to say, I’m a very grateful girl, and I had a fantastic Thanksgiving with my family.

Of the things I can’t control . . .

A long time ago I used to have a notebook with the Serenity Prayer on it. In case you’re not familiar with it, this is what it says, “God grant me the will to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”

It’s been an important mantra for me throughout my life, even though I sometimes have a hard time living it.

Tonight as I’m supposed to be falling asleep, I find myself struggling with insomnia. The culprit for this problem? Issues affecting people I care deeply about and can do nothing about.

While I tend to use my blog as my sounding board for thoughts and experiences, I try hard not to use it as my personal place to air dirty laundry. As such, I’m not going to talk about the specific issues on my mind this evening. Suffice it to say, they’re fairly serious issues affecting people I care about whom I want to help but can’t.

Certain of them I just want to shake and am having lectures with inside my head, lectures that I know I’d most likely never say for real unless I felt very strongly impressed to do so. I’m not sure that I think the probability of that is high though.

So, what’s the solution to my overthinking, especially for when I need to be sleeping? I think the best course of action is to pray with all my heart and to have hope that things will work out the way they’re supposed to. I must also always have faith to know that people can change, and God works in mysterious ways. He loves all His children and wants the best for them, and I do believe He directs our lives.

All those I care about who are struggling will be taken care of because Father in Heaven has not forgotten them, just as He will never forget me. As long as I remember that (and continue to do what small things I can), I know it’s going to be okay, even if it isn’t for awhile.