HOLIDAY: THANKSGIVING: THINGS I'M GRATEFUL FOR

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THANKSGIVING: THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR

 

Back in August, I did a column about the things I’m jealous of others for having or doing. Even as I wrote them, (though mostly for entertainment value,) I felt awful listing them. I’m more grateful than envious in general, and I realized that I really need to list just some of the many things I’m grateful for, especially now that it it’s Thanksgiving time again. (I’m also in New York right now, arriving here just a week after Hurricane Sandy did. Witnessing the extreme devastation so up-close and personal made me even more grateful for my own life than I always am.)

On a television show a couple of years ago, I saw a young girl who had been saved after being abducted. When the interviewer asked how she could be so calm about it all, she answered that someone had once told her that if we all wrote down our problems and put them in a hat, everyone would want to pick his or her own problems out of it.

I pretty much agree with that. Perhaps we would all choose someone else’s petty ones, (like that a pal once told me, in all seriousness, that it was the worst day of her life because she couldn’t find a black-tie dress!,) but in the serious category, I think we would choose our own. Like I would definitely choose my broken back over having my face eaten by a cannibal! ( I can hear Mr. X laughing when he reads this, but I mean it in earnest.)

Most nights, I really do count my blessings, as I feel we all should. So, here are just a few of mine:

Mr. X—I really prayed for him to be my boyfriend for a long time, so even the hard times don’t phase me much.

My little mother—as most of my friends tell me, and I know anyway, I’m really super-lucky to have May Rose Salkin as my mother. [Note: she’s still my mother, even though she’s now on a different level of life.] She was a riot and a half. Everyone loved being around her, and I appreciated her more and more as time went on. She never complained or tried to manipulate me, and was ever grateful for all I did for her. And I’m also lucky to have had her around for so long!

Clarence Darrence—the sweetest little boy there ever was! We really lucked-out to get that guy! I don’t know what I did to deserve him. And even though he hasn’t been here for a couple of years now, I’m beyond grateful that we had him for so many years. Not many dog owners get almost eighteen years with their pet.

A few of my friends over the years—I’m actually grateful for any friends, because friendship is nothing to take for granted, but there are a few stalwarts who’ve really been there for me over the last difficult year: Lauren, Sheila, Lila, Lou, Carol, Manny, Anna, Jeff, Betsy, and Judy. And my friends around the world (aka the girls from Aspen,) are always foremost in my mind: Mary, Gina, Alex, and Simone. Those four were part of many of my happiest times.

To not have tons of money troubles over the years—even though I’ve never had money, per se, (and I’ve never lived up to my money-making potential; not even close!,) I’m really just a simple girl who doesn’t need, or even want, much. (Believe it or not, you people who erroneously think I’m “princess-y!”) I have the “three necessities of life,” (as they’re taught to us in elementary school,) food, clothing, and shelter, and somehow, I have everything else I could need, and more. Earlier this year, one of my wealthiest pals won more money than I could ever dream of, and when I was helping her figure out what to do with it, everything I suggested in the fun category, (like travel, massages, weekly mani/pedis, etc.) she already does! And somehow, that seemed sad to me.

Basic health—yes, I have asthma and a back that’s broken in two places, (and at least four more not fun maladies, but who’s counting?) But, I’m grateful to have so much else working in this category! Everyone has some cross to bear, and I’m grateful that mine are at least manageable. I’ve always told my pals that, as long as we have our limbs and our senses, we’re ahead of the game. But even if we were missing any of those, there are always the others to be grateful for.

That I have a great life in Los Angeles, and am therefore never antsy to go anywhere else!–Amen to that one! I’m going to miss spending three months a year in my home in Brooklyn from now on, but I’ll be thrilled to not have to make airline reservations anymore! Ugh.

That I’m still here!–one of my best friends lost her two-year battle with cancer recently, and my head is still spinning over the loss. It’s super-sad, and I console myself with the fact that she had a wonderful, full life, with lots of love and laughs. I still can’t wrap my head around how this could have happened to such a good person, (she’s one of the few people I know who truly had an absence of malice,) and it’s made me be even more grateful for every second I have here on earth. [Note: I’ve been working on a tribute to her and it should be ready soon, so please look-out for it. She deserves people to know about her.]

You guys!!!–if a tree fell in the forest…that’s the same principle in effect here. I could always just write for myself, but without you guys reading it, would there still be trees? (Or something like that!) The serious biggest daily joy I have is checking the stats for this e-zine. And it grows every single day! I don’t take that lightly and am grateful to each and everyone of you for reading it.

I hope that all of you have, and realize you have, so much to be grateful for yourself, on all days of the year. And that you especially reflect on that abundance today.

I WISH YOU ALL AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

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  1. Pingback: It's Not About Me » HOLIDAY: HAPPY THANKSGIVIKKAH!

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