Giving Thanks
I love Thanksgiving—in fact, I love everything about it. It is a wonderful American Holiday—perhaps it is even my very favorite of all Holidays.
First, I love the idea of having an entire day devoted to thanks. Even though we all should be grateful every day and I believe most of us are—having one particular day devoted to thanks seems a marvelous idea. Even if we are not as appreciative as we should be every day, having a specific time to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for seems like a perfect reason for a Holiday.
I also love that Thanksgiving is relatively less commercial than most other holidays—particularly Christmas. True enough, retail stores do their best to promote ‘Black Friday’ each year but at least no one expects us to buy gifts in order to express our thanks. I love gift giving—meaningful gift giving—but rushing out feeling pressured to buy that perfect gift seems to be the opposite of what thoughtful giving should be.
I also love good food and enjoy spending time with my husband cooking that good food. Thanksgiving is a wonderful excuse to cook to the hilt and share that good food with people you love.
Although I have a steadfast habit of saying my ‘gratefuls’ every night, it is on Thanksgiving Day that I take the opportunity to really reflect on those gratefuls—and their meaning. Normally, I curl up in a favorite chair, wrapped in my favorite soft throw, while I staring pensively out the window to reflect on those special people who made my life what it is today. I go back to the very first day of my recovery—seeing the face of nurse Moses just above me when I awoke from my coma. Then meeting Tim Callahan and his amazing offer of placing me in a comprehensive treatment center, one that would finally give me the depth of recovery I needed to escape the hell that had become my life. As I sit and reflect on my amazing journey, I can see the faces of each person who touched my life; I hear the words that helped me along, and feel the strength they gave to me. As I mentally pass each one of those people, I give a heartfelt grateful for their influence in my life. Truly, without those people, I would not have become the person I am today.
I am grateful every day—and particularly this time of year, it seems, I remember that last holiday season before recovery—when life was so bleak and I didn’t think I would live another year—nor did I want to. I will never forget that last holiday and each Thanksgiving, while going through my gratefuls that is no different from any other night of my life; I do spend a little more time reflecting on how wonderful it is to be warm, safe, and loved.
Peace to all! May your Thanksgiving be full of love and happiness.
Melinda
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Categories: Friendship,Addiction and Recovery,Reflections,Healing the Past,Happiness,Gratitude
Tags: reflections Thanksgiving gratitude addiction and recovery friendship
you said it very well.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here to you!
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Thanks so much, Tia!
Melinda
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Happy Thanksgiving, Melinda!
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You too, Jennifer!
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I love Thanksgiving too! Happy Thanksgiving, Melinda.
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You too, Jennifer! Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your friends and family tomorrow.
Melinda
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Love and peace to you this Thanksgiving and every Thanksgiving.
P.S. I also say my gratefuls every night before turning in.
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Thank you so much, TT--and to you as well. Gratefuls are a great reminder aren't they?
Melinda
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Happy Thanksgiving, Melinda. May your 'gratefuls' increase yearly!
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Thanks so much, Lade! And the same right back to you!
Melinda
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Happiest Thanksgiving to you. It is my favorite holiday, most definitely. I love it because it isn't religious or political...what a refreshing treat. We'll be here tomorrow for Thanksgiving dinner as is our tradition, and then I'll cook a turkey over the weekend.
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Hi Lydia,
Wow--Silver Falls looks absolutely spectacular! What a great way to spend T-Day! Enjoy your lovely weekend!
Melinda
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Yow! Where are you from, Lydia? That is just up the gravel road from my Dad's farm!!
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Hey SV! I believe Lydia lives in Oregon, if I am not mistaken!
Melinda
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She would have to...that part of Oregon is full of small towns and between the towns, farms. My father's family has owned a farm only 3 miles from the park since the 1930s...my mother's family settled in a small town just 10 miles away (where I was born). I wonder which of those many small towns Lydia lives in, or if she lives in the nearest "big city," Salem.
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I agree that Thanksgiving seems like a more pure holiday compared to Christmas and some of the others. At least less commercial.
People really do give thanks.
I enjoyed your post.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thanks so much for stopping by--and happy T-Day to you as well!
Melinda
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Happy Happy Thanksgiving Melinda!!
This post was such a delight to read ^_^! The whole atmosphere of Thanksgiving appeals to me. Also Halloween. Hahaha sometimes I think that I had to be born in the States!
Enjoy this day to the fullest!
Take care,
TJ
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Happy Thanksgiving to you too, TJ!
Well, we will be happy to adopt you here in the States--and hopefully, you will get a chance to visit us one day! I hope so!
Melinda
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I had been trying to be more thankful for the good things in my life, but lately, a lot of that has been overshadowed by the frustration and anger I have been feeling. I know I need to work harder at seeing that positive.
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ST--I know it is hard when we are faced with a lot of challenges (as you are now)--but when I look at things more positively, they almost always turn out better!
Melinda
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Bless you, Melinda! Have a beautiful day!
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You too, NP!
Melinda
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Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving! Have a great day
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Thank you so much, Meam--and the same to you!
Melinda
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And, needless to say, your blog readers are grateful for you, Melinda...and I'm sure I'll be even more so once I take you up on your invitation to chow down at your place next time I'm up that way...
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I'm really looking forward to that, Jay!
Melinda
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Melinda, although I don't devote a particular day for thanks giving but I know the importance of being thankful to our fellow human beings from this quote of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) "He who is not thankful to men is not thankful to Allah (God)."
Therefore, I want to express my gratitute to you too, for I've learnt much from your blog and your life. Atleast I have learnt that: "There is hope as long there is life."
Thank you very much, Melinda!
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My dear friend, my feeling is that you devote part of every day to giving thanks. Your words are always so full of gratitude that they inspire many.
Thank you so much for all your kind words . . . and your friendship. I appreciate it very much!
Melinda
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Melinda,
I just want to express my gratitude to you
also because I see my blog present in the Friends of Melindaville, I really feel honoured for this favour. I am also glad to tell that my blog is registerd with a new domain name : www.guidingfriends.com
I am not only learning from your posts but I am also waiting for your book.
May you live long, and find success wherever you go, wherever you stay, Ameen!
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Thank you so much for telling me about your new domain name (how great that you got your own). I will definitely update this in Friends of Melindaville--and I so appreciate your kind words, always--
Take care,
Melinda
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