Giving Thanks - Much to be Thankful For

Just wanted to pull together a short blog of Thanksgiving for all that 2014 has brought.

I am grateful for everything I have in my life... even though 2014 has dealt me a bunch of downs it has also provided me with an abundance of ups.

I am grateful to finally know what is the cause of many of the strange health issues I have and even with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (non-fatal, manageable symptoms, and on the radar of some promising research towards a cure) I have found I am stronger than I knew and that I have an amazing circle of people who are there to help me when I have a day that knocks the wind out of my sails.

I am grateful for the personal family struggles that found me as it has reminded me that I have amazing children and a husband who is worth refocusing my positive energy around who all love me so much it overwhelms me some days.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of an amazing team of triathletes through Kyle's Bikes and Triathlon Racers of Iowa.  They encouraged me when my goals remained beyond my reach and cheered the loudest when I found my way to surprising triumph.

I am grateful to have a fleet of remarkable and diligent health care professionals on my team keeping me running through all the crap my body throws and me and the that I throw at it.

I am grateful to have a workplace filled with intelligent thoughtful people who give me a long leash to continue to make decisions that hopefully make a positive impact on the people I support.  I love my job (even when it is crazy busy and things don't go the way I planed.)

I am grateful for an amazing and crazy and loving family and extended family.  They have an enormous capacity for love and I feel that from across the many miles that separate us and wish we had more face time.

I am grateful for interesting and wonderful friends all across the country with whom I share great memories.  May I cross paths with more of you in 2015. 

I am grateful to share this beautiful Earth with all of you and love the time I get outside taking in all the sights and sounds of nature.

I am grateful for every day I can get up (even if if the cats, dogs, kids or husband wake me before the alarm) and start a new day with a smile and drive to learn new things and have new experiences.

I am grateful to be able to see my flaws and be good with the ones that don't matter, and work every more diligently to refine the ones that do.  I work every day to find the calm in the midst of chaos.

So with that I have rambled on enough but I want to encourage each and everyone of you to open up your heart to all the good things in your life, and work to make the things that drag you down better.

Let the people who are important to you know  and be willing to put yourself out there to make a positive difference in another person's life.  It isn't easy but it is so fulfilling.  So with that I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I send you my love and wish you peace.

Thanksgiving - Giving Thanks

So as another Thanksgiving has come and gone along with another Black Friday I am taking a few minutes to reflect. Anyone who knows me knows I hate that the American society is overly focus on consumerism. Black Friday is an obvious example and things seem to be worse the last couple of years as stores are opening earlier and earlier as people try to get great deals to reduce the impact on their pockets books. People at stores at midnight with their children pepper spraying others in the holiday spirit. It all makes me really sad.

The kids and I went to mass this weekend to celebrate the beginning of Advent in preparation for Christmas and the celebration of the coming of Jesus. While were there Father John told us a story about a group of nuns living together that all have some sort of physical limitation living in harmony and taking care of each other. His message was that if we were more aware we would see that God has given us all we need to be happy we just need to be open and willing to accept God's gifts.

Last week I got an email from Andy Andrews a motivational speaker that I have seen live and whose books I have read. He has an excerpt from one of his books at the link below. It is a story about Wade a minister who is struggling through a family Thanksgiving meal. He has found that he is preoccupied by all the things that wear him down and has lost site of the good things around him. Andy asks us to reflect and write down 10 things we are grateful for.

Andy Andrew's Short story about being thankful.

Things I am grateful for:
1) Having a new day presented to me with each sunrise where I can breath another breath and find the opportunity to learn and be a better person.

2) Having all my faculties, limbs, functions working for the most part, and the ability to listen to my body and manage my health.

3) Having two beautiful children and a husband who love me and support me through each day. Having time to spend/share with them each day.

4) Having a great job that challenges me and allows me enough to cover my family essentials.

5) Wonderful family members (parents, aunts/uncles, cousins, grandparents, brothers/sister) who I am close to, who accept me, and share thoughts and experiences with me.

6) Wonderful friends from around the country who treat me like family.

7) Living in the USA, in a safe and beautiful country that I love to explore nature and learn the history of.

8) Technology that lets me do my job, share my thoughts, hear from friends and family, and experience new things.

9) Hobbies that help me wind down, create, learn and share.

10) The ability to set goals, challenge myself, and achieve my goal as well as the desire to keep building and learning and striving towards my goals.

So with that I ask you to think about your blessings, what are you thank you for... that doesn't mean that the things that bring you down are not real, but I put forth to you that it is possible to realize these things and then let them go so they don't damage your health or relationships. Focus on the good positive things in your life and spend your energy nurturing those things instead.

Thank you for being a part of my life.