Giving Thanks...

The autumn colours are splendid and forecast for this turkey-time weekend  is sunny and deliciously warm.

Traffic volume starts to build early on Friday afternoons when it’s a long weekend, whether in Muskoka or other parts of Ontario or across the country. Destinations are yearned for even as cottagers depart at weekend’s end for the trek home – already anticipating the next trip “up to the cottage”.

Some travelers are journeying to visit families elsewhere, sometimes secretly wishing they could just stay at home.

This weekend, with its bounties of natural beauty, friendships, teamwork and heavily laden tables of food all come under the umbrella word “Thanksgiving”.

In this great country we have so much to be thankful for at any given time, if we just look at global economics, disparities in quality of life, and cultural differences which are sometimes rife with misunderstanding and complete ignorance of others.  Cars were lined up at the gas pumps today – aren’t we lucky to have fuel to dispense!

So even if you have to work this weekend, so do thousands of others – and we should be thankful we have a means to earn. Travelling to dine at someone else’s table may not be what you’re “into” –at least you have an invitation, for which you should feel gratitude. Just look around at the lonely people you see on the streets. Many members of our communities have probably lost a family member or friend – we should be grateful that we still have partners or relatives to enjoy and cherish good health.

And on any one of the starry, clear nights we’re about to enjoy as a last hurrah, most of us have cozy beds to nestle into and if it were to drizzle, a roof to shelter us; unlike many.

Personally, I am deeply grateful for all of the circumstances that are good and improving in my life – and also feel thankful that I have the brain and brawn to strive and survive.

Happy Thanksgiving, every day.