Be thankful

Another Thanksgiving is upon us, a time to reflect over the past year and count our blessings.
With so much turmoil in the world at this time, you may wonder why we should be giving thanks.
But we all have moments in which we rejoiced this year. Perhaps it was a recovery to good health, a marriage in the family, new additions to the extended family, a new pet, a better job.
The possibilities are many. It is worth taking some time to quietly think about our lives, focus on the positive and then give thanks.
Perhaps it will help if we become less focused on ourselves, less focused on the little hurts that we have blown out of proportion.
Hey, sometimes we can just be thankful that we are NOT that person who is causing us pain, the person who is so miserable and self-centered that he or she must try to destroy others' happiness.
Please don't let yourself be that person.
Be joyful. Reach out to help others. Pray for those who need more help than you can provide.
Try to forgive those who have wronged you -- easier said than done, I know.
And yes, eat too much, watch the parades or football, laugh with your family and friends.
But please don't go shopping on Thanksgiving -- let's take this holiday back as a time for family and NOT a time to fill retailers' pockets. 

May you find happiness at Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season ahead. And may we all remember to be kinder to each other as we give thanks this year.

Gotta love this holiday favorite from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, above -- and we love this weird thrift-store find that takes center stage on turkey day, below.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!