This month is a month to be "thankful" ... we should be thankful all the time I guess ... but when I think of "November" I'm just more aware ...
anyhoo ... I really have lots to be thankful for ... however, there are days, many lately, when instead of seeing the glass half full, I've been a bit more pessimistic ... I have made it a personal rule to not allow my blog (my journal) to become a breeding ground for negativity or a "compliant department" ... so ... I refrain from blogging ... however ... realizing that EVERYONE has "those days" where it is VERY easy to complain about "life" and the way it unfolds ... especially when your mind expects the red carpet to unfold to a perfect, pleasant world ... but instead it's a dirt path with stray rocks here and there waiting to cause a stumble!
anyhoo ... a few things happened today that made me stop ... and think ...
this evening we stopped by Cracker Barrel ... and I noticed as we sat down, those around me ... a family of 3 - a not so old grandmother, a very young mother and a new born baby - absent father ... then I noticed two friends having dinner, both wearing the same color shirts, both laughing and enjoying themselves, but one had hair and one didn't - an obvious chemo recipient ... proudly displaying a bald head - no hat or scarf.
hmmmm ... started thinking ... I don't have cancer ... my child has a father that is married to her mother ... and very quickly, my issues at hand seemed to diminish ...
I guess what I'm trying to say is ... if you look around, you can always find someone that's having it more rough than you ... not to say that my issues are not real to me ... they are ... but it allowed me to stop and realize that no matter what, I need to at least try and see the glass half full ...
This morning, I had to take Daisy to get her stitches removed ... I walked in and stood in line ... the woman in front of me was sniffling and you could tell she had been crying ... the wait got longer so I decided to sit down and wait ... finally the receptionist asked the lady if she wanted a receipt - she started crying and choked out "no" ... the receptionist said she was sorry and then the lady proceeded to put her checkbook in her purse and then she pushed back from the desk and reached up for a package ... still crying ... then I realized that her "package" was a doggie body bag and she had lost her pet. She was an older lady and this pet had probably been with her for a very long time ... the room went silent ... there were three of us waiting, all seated with our pets waiting our turn ... as she lifted her 'package' off the desk, very slowly and reverently she turned and started walking towards the door, crying as she left ...
none of us spoke for a minute ... as if we were having a moment of silence ... it was a bit awkward - but I totally felt so sorry for that poor woman! There we three sat, dogs alive and breathing ... and this lady left with a taped up package of her pets remains.
Who knows what her story was ... she could have been a widow that lived alone with this pet for many years ... and now ... today ... she was burying her friend.
Might seem silly to some, but it affected me ... I know how I would be if that were my dog ... but I can't even imagine if I were elderly and possibly lived alone ... and depended on that pet for companionship ... so many do ...
it was just very sad ...
so this ... too ... made me thankful ... that I wasn't burying my pet today ...
I know ... doom and gloom right?! Not meaning to be ... the point was to be thankful ... =0)
... and I am ... very ...
I'm having diabetic related eye issues at the moment ... but I know God has his hand on me ... and I know He can take care of this ... I have surgery looming that I'm not exactly jumping up and down about ... however ... I'm thankful ... thankful that I can see "some" ... and not totally blind ... thankful that I have help if I need it ...
Whatever the "issue" is at hand ... we all have them from time to time ... and "OUR" issues are always VERY BIG to "us" - no one ever sees your issues like you do ... (I wish I could see my issue better - ha! sorry - couldn't resist) - gotta have humor right?!
anyhoo ... today ... realizations:
1. a thankful heart that things aren't as bad as they could be
2. compassion for those around me who might be having a very crummy day
3. the glass is half full mentality
which in turn - all of this makes me feel better about my situation ...
Positive breeds Positive - right?
So here's to optimism - cheers!
tammy
