Giving Thanks

I've been delighted by the number of e-mails I've had today from people online wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving isn't a festival that's officially recognized this side of the Atlantic, which I think is a great shame, and the sooner someone introduces it, the better.

It's only natural to want more of what we really like and less of what we don't, but it's all too easy to take for granted what we have... and those we love.

Thanksgiving Day provides us with an ideal opportunity to put that right, and show appreciation of all that is most truly valuable to us. It gives us a sense of perspective - and that actually makes us enjoy all those things more.

What's more, all those lovely greetings, most of them listing things the writer is thankful for, and many asking me to return the compliment by telling them what I'm most thankful for right now, act as an encouragement to give some serious thought to that.

Well, as regular readers of this blog will know, I'm particularly thankful for an escape last week from what looked like it was going to be a fatal car wreck, with me right in the middle of it. It was a very scary experience, and not one that I ever want to have again (the danger part, I mean, not the fact that I survived it!)... but it's taught me an extremely valuable lesson.

"Never," I told myself when I thought about it afterwards - "never, ever, take anything for granted again.

"Not the fact that the car goes when you want it to.

"Not the fact that it stops (well, normally!) when you want it to.

"Not the fact that the hot water, the gas, the electricity, the phone, your cell-phone, the computer and your precious Internet, work the way you want them to.

"Not the fact that you have a family that you love, and who love you.

"Not the fact that your parents and Godparents taught you your religious faith, and that the first gift that you were ever given was your father's Bible.

"Not the fact that you have friends in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Canada, and countries all around the globe, who teach you about their faith, their politics, their music and their culture, and who enrich your life and bring you so much fun and laughter.

"Not the fact that there's a city full of bright lights and all the music that you love just 10 minutes' drive away from here.

"Not the fact that there's a whole wonderful countryside two minutes' walk from your front door.

"Not the fact that through books (including e-ones), newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, audio, video, and above all the Internet, you have access to all the information you could ever need, on every subject you could ever want.

"Not the fact that you have so many other blessings it would take a whole lot more than one day to recount them all.

"In fact, don't take anything, at all, for granted. Be thankful for it, and enjoy it. That's what blessings are given to you for."

Well, that's the lesson that I've learned this week, and I'm profoundly grateful to all whose Thanksgiving greetings have reinforced it for me today.

I'd like to pass their kindness on by wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving Day - especially those who, like myself till now, don't celebrate it.

Please try it - otherwise, you've no idea how great it feels.