Thanksgiving and the Grateful List

It was an interesting week leading up to Thanksgiving.The Salida Brass played at the funeral for our fallen member Bob Cook. Then later I went to Aspen with my friend Ralph and we finished this Beech Bonanza we had worked on to repair the metal on the bottom of the cowl that had ground off in a gear up landing.  Two endings that came on top of each other.

       I have been on this project almost two years, working over there when we could. You would think I am grateful that it is done, which I am, but I am also grateful for the experience of the work.

      Just before Thanksgiving I read an article about having a grateful list. The author was trying to write something he was grateful for each day. The idea is that it increases happiness in your life. This happiness seems to also improve health. But his premise was our consumer society breeds dissatisfaction. 

We end up wanting more and never being happy with what  we have. This article caused me to review all that I am grateful for. On this Thanksgiving weekend of family and friends I have much to be thankful for. 

It seemed to me that this feeling of thankfulness was everywhere I was, with family, even just out and about. The lighting of Christmas mountain, with fireworks, and freshly falling snow was very much the holiday season. As I looked around at my friends and neighbors in Salida, they had expressions of gratitude for their community. 

       Keeping a grateful list was a family habit some years ago, but not lately, this article has me thinking it might be a practice again. At least for me, I have so much to be grateful for, and as I watch my grandchildren play, or finish work that was a joy, to use skills learned over a lifetime, it is with satisfaction that I can think of much to list. I hope everyone can enter this holiday season with gratefulness, to share of themselves and get back even more than they give. Be grateful and look to the future with optimism. Happy Holidays from Will by the River