A Season of Thanks in a Time of Change

(This is a repost from an old blog...but it's still a valid posting for me.)

A lot of people count their success and the quality of their life primarily by the possessions they own and the position they have within whatever community they count themselves part of. I've been guilty of that, and to a degree, I'm still guilty of it. However, I've come to the conclusion that the material is transient (as is, in truth, everything else). I am grateful for what I have, what I own, but I no longer believe that my possessions define my life.

A wise man once said that the Universe is conspiring to give us everything we need. I believe those words to be truer than most. What we need and what we want are two entirely different animals. Occasionally, what we want is what we need, but usually not.  I am thankful for every person who has touched my life for better and not.

Buddha said that our [so called] enemies are our greatest teachers because they make us identify those traits in them that we despise and then identify them within ourselves. I am grateful for those people who have rubbed me the wrong way because they've left me with infinitely valuable lessons and insights.

I'm incredibly grateful for the people in my life who enter my presence with a smile, kind word, warm hug, and a happy thought. These are the people who show me every time our paths cross how fortunate and how rich I really am. A conversation I had with a good friend last night made me realize how derelict I've been in making sure that people know how much they mean to me.

People are always talking about the "starving children in China" and the "sick and dying people in Africa". Yes, those are sad facts of life, but at the same time, what about the emotionally bankrupt people of the world? People who have everything they could ever want, but they don't have a kind word for anyone, there's never a message on their voice mail left "just because"? I feel sorrier for those people. Starvation, sickness, and death are all part of the human condition. But emptiness of the soul is a travesty. And I am everyday grateful that I have people around me who help prevent that happening within myself. I only hope that I return the favour.

With every step, every breath, every beat of my heart, I give my thanks, for I shall never want.

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"The planet does not need more successful people.  The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds." -- the Dalai Lama

*Photo found on Google images