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For those of us who are in the United States or who are elsewhere but American, Happy Thanksgiving to you! For many people, Thanksgiving means football, too much food, and family. Not necessarily in that order. And, as trite as it sounds, it is a day for giving thanks. It would be nice if we remembered to do this all year but, at the least, let today be a reminder to be thankful every day. Start a new habit of giving thanks for one thing a day. A different thing every day if you can. Write it in your calendar. Put it on your “to do” list. Take the time. It will make a difference in your life.

I know sometimes I struggle with this. As a recovering “strive-aholic”, there are times in my life that I have looked (and do look!) toward doing/having/being better. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, that’s pretty apparent. On the surface, there is nothing wrong with this but, if left unchecked, it can create a habit of never being satisfied with what you have or who you are. And, I have determined that there is a fine line between quelling boredom and being dissatisfied with your life. Yes, it’s true, there are times that I think that I strive/have striven (yes, that is a word) because I’m bored. I am easily bored, as it turns out. Very easily bored.

Today I am most thankful that I am able to stay at home with The Tater Tot. Although being at home with a toddler can be somewhat mind-numbing at times when you are a person that is easily bored, I would not trade it for anything. The mind-numbing part is so small compared to the “Oh my God, this child is amazing!” part. And I don’t mean that she’s gifted or always behaves like I want her to. I mean that she adds so much to my life. She is fun and funny. She has more energy than anyone I know. She has interesting and amusing perspectives on things. She is constantly learning and trying to make me laugh. Yes, I have a craving to have “Mommy Time” and occasional adult conversation but she is the person that I most want to be around at any given time.

I am also thankful that The Daddy is such a good father. He loves to spend time with The Tot and they have such a good time together. Just don’t tell me what she ate for snack. I don’t want to know. I’m grateful that he is being patient with the “Mommy-centric” phase she is going through right now, too. That can’t be fun for him.

I’m thankful for my family. For how easy it is to be with them and how comfortable I feel being myself around them. That is HUGE and sometimes I forget how huge it is. Not for long, though because something always happens to remind me!

I’m thankful that I am reasonably healthy. Yes, I have medical issues that make life a little less enjoyable at times but they are not of the immediately life-threatening or daily draining variety as long as I continue to take care of myself.

I am thankful for my faith. It’s not a perfect faith and I sometimes feel weak in it but, at the end of the day I know that everything will work out okay even when things look really bleak.

What are you thankful for?