A Different Thanksgiving
As I sit here and ponder the meaning of gratitude, I go through the list of those that I love. The people that add meaning to my life, and for whom I would do anything. My loved ones who have shared many happy moments, and history with me. Then I start to think about all that has enriched my life, and has brought me to being the person I am today, right now. And it dawns on me that I wouldn't be who I am without the hard lessons, the suffering and the tears as well. The joyful experiences have made life worthwhile, but it's the hard knocks of life that help me to appreciate the happy times. I have grown the most in the most hurtful situations, and the difficult moments have forced me to evolve. To evolve into a person who can see the joys and sorrows of life, the successes and failures, and continue on with resilience, dignity, and some sort of grace. I am grateful for each experience, each person, that has marked my life, whether at the time I "labeled" the experien