Thankful, Even in a Topsy Turvy World

Here it is, the day before Thanksgiving, and that seems like the perfect time to remind ourselves of all that we are thankful for in our lives. It can feel like a real challenge to give thanks when the world seems so topsy turvy and upside down. Many of us carry a growing list of concerns about the state of democracy in the United States, and those worries are loud. But I am asking you to set them aside for just 30 minutes and make a list of what you are thankful for today.

I’ll start.

I am thankful for my partner, Joe Coehlo. Even when he is hogging the kitchen, like he was this afternoon, to make sweet potato pie. His sweet potato pie is a base of sweet potatoes and butternut squash, both grown in our own garden. He eventually finished so I could make some lunch. Being hangry is not my favorite feeling.

I am thankful for family and friends. Each and every one of them makes my life feel rich. I could name them all, but it might take days to read. Not because I have so many friends and relatives, but because I would want to include the reason why each person is special to me. Just know that if you are reading this and you are a friend or family member, I love you.

I am thankful that our neighbors are kind and caring people and that they have made room for Joe and me to be a part of their lives.

I am thankful for my daughter (Megan) and her husband, Jeremy. They are good people working hard to make sure our grandchildren grow into their very best selves.

I am grateful for Caleb, Charlotte, and Oliver. Each of them is teaching me how to be a grandma.

I am thankful that Joe and I made decisions during our thirty plus years of marriage to save for retirement. We came into our marriage with very little money, and together we built a financial future for ourselves.

I am thankful for our home, a place to lay our heads at night without worrying where we will be living tomorrow.

I am thankful for all of the people showing up in cities and towns to help immigrants, documenting ICE behavior and documenting the people being taken away. Every one of these videos will serve as proof of the illegal and cruel actions of the current regime.

I am thankful for all of the people showing up at No Kings and at other protests of the current regime.

I am thankful that I am getting healthier every day. Losing weight, losing inches, and improving my mobility are all gifts I give myself each day by staying the course.

What are you thankful for today?

P.S. I will most likely take tomorrow off from writing, since family and food will be calling.