“Do you remember our first night here? It was all so new and exciting. A world of endless wonder. I’m just so glad that we got to see it.”
– Myka Bering, Warehouse 13
Season 4, Episode 18, “Lost and Found”

When Myka says this, she is saying it in the shadow of quite possibly dying from cancer. When facing the end, of course one looks back on what’s come before, and the last few years of her life have been filled with danger, terror, heartache, loss… and endless wonder. That last is what she is remembering most, regardless of the rest.

She’s not cursing her death, she’s just thankful for her life.

There is a dignity and poise to that, a wisdom that comes from living life well enough to recognize what’s good about it even when something has gone wrong.

And there, you may see why I thought of this moment in the same week that my country celebrates Thanksgiving. 😉

To me, Thanksgiving has long been a time to remember that there is always something to be thankful for, no matter the trial and tribulation of our lives. Indeed, there are so many people suffering from so much loss, and yet they manage to keep smiling, because they remember what they still have.

Gratitude is a defining virtue of human decency, essential to keep if one wants to be happy.

(this is one of many reasons why I hate the Black Friday shopping madness)

Personally, when I think about my life, I can’t help but remember all the blessings I’ve had, and still have, within it. I have all of my necessities provided for. I have modern amenities. I have some things which are, quite frankly, luxuries. I have good, tasty, nourishing, filling food. I have good, clean, comfortable, intact clothes. I can clean and groom myself easily. I have a good roof over my head, with heating in the winter. I have an AC unit for the summer. My job might not be glamorous, but it’s a job, and a good job, and it pays the bills. I have my blog, and I have all of you, my wonderful audience. 😉 I have a community. I have friends. I have family. I have my dogs. I have a place to belong. I have my religion and the freedom to practice it. I have so many good memories. And I have stories, stories, and more stories to feast upon!

And that’s just scratching the surface! 🙂

In short: I have so much to be thankful for. And I am.

So, Happy Thanksgiving!

And if you’re not in America, have a great week anyway! 😀