Yesterday was Thanksgiving here in the Great White North.
A time for turkey and stuffing, family and photos, blessings and thanks.
It’s just me and the boy, and he doesn’t like turkey (what kind of monster is he?) – nor does he like stuffing or cranberry anything (he’s human, I swear). Part of me missed the traditional dinner, but in all honesty the bigger part of me was happy to have more time hanging out beside my son, rather than slaving over a hot stove away from him. Instead of feeling down about not having a big celebration, I hugged the boy a little harder and we read a book together. HE is what I’m thankful for, not the feast.
Where am I going with this?
What I don’t share all too often is how incredibly hard the past decade has been on me. There have been more downs than ups. Relationships and friendships have shattered. People who I thought were friends showed their true, ugly, childlike colours. Continuous financial angst. Car trouble upon car trouble upon car trouble. Bouts of deep, dark depression. Stress out the wazoo and back again. Health problems brought on by said stress. Doubting myself and everyone around me. All the feels of worthlessness you could possibly imagine and then some. Loneliness. Just wanting. To. Give. Up.
This isn’t a pity post, people. (Try saying ‘pity post people’ ten times fast!) This is a THANKFUL post!
Through everything I’ve experienced over the past ten years, I still smile. I laugh and joke and strive to make others – friends and readers – laugh, too. I feel blessed in so many, many ways. It’s very easy to look at only the bad stuff and wallow in it. If you do that for too long, though, you don’t just wallow. You drown.
“If something is wrong in my life that I can change, take control of it and turn it around!” It sounds so simple right … but it’s something I must coach myself on constantly.
The best advice I can offer is when stress and pressure build in life, take a moment, step back and remind yourself of all the things you are be thankful for. I promise you’ll find the blessings far outweigh the scars.
Just a couple of the many things I’m thankful for:
I’m thankful for my son – intelligent, handsome, funny as hell, my best friend and partner is craziness. My life would be empty without him. He is 100% of my heart and soul, and I couldn’t be more blessed to have such a rock star in my corner.- I’m thankful for my Barketing Manager, Max – constant cuddles and kisses = constant happiness.
- I’m thankful for some of the simpler things that so many take for granted – a roof over my head, food on the table, a heart that beats and the ability to draw breath.
- I’m thankful for my friends, near and far, acquaintance or those I chat with daily. They put up with my craziness, help keep my head on straight, and remind me what a real friend really is.
- I’m thankful I have the opportunity to craft stories and share them with you! Life has not been easy and writing (story, lyric or poem) has been my escape since I was very young. There’s just something almost comforting and hopeful about people crossing countless broken bridges to find each other and their happily ever after. If I can pass an iota of that comfort and hope on to you, my job is done.
- I am thankful for my tenacity and stubbornness – without it, I would have quit the writing biz long, long ago. Also without it, my friends would probably find me a lot more tolerable!
When you feel darkness creeping in, how do you get out of a funk?
Much love to all…and THANK YOU for being part of this crazy journey!