Each year as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and I start my preparations for the big celebration, I can't help but reflect upon all for which I am most grateful. I sat down to start making my grocery list and happened to turn on some news at the same time. It was just in time to see a story about people lining up already for the Black Friday specials that are actually going to be available starting Thursday. This story was followed up by another that talked about workers at some of the big stores who were protesting being forced to work on Thanksgiving Day rather than being able to enjoy this holiday with their families and friends. I can't begin to tell you how sad these stories made me feel.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I have established a whole day of traditions that make this day so very special. I tried to imagine how I would feel if I were forced to work on this day and even bigger, I couldn't begin to imagine how any "thing" would be important enough to me to sit out on the street for four days in order to get it at some lesser price at any time, let alone on this special holiday.
I suppose there will always be people for whom any holiday will not be of any importance but I am so happy that I am not one of those people. I have already started to think about what has changed in my life since last year -- what has occurred that will extend my list of things for which I am thankful this year and surprisingly, I couldn't help but note that all of the changes are directly related to social media and some very special people that are now a part of my life. I have met more than 20 people who have changed my life forever and whom I would never have had the opportunity to know if it were not for the internet. I have been privileged enough to share my time and my dreams with these people who are also working to make a better life for themselves and for their families but even more surprisingly, for others that they may never even have the chance to know.
So this year on Thanksgiving Day as I sit down to dinner with Kirk and we start our very special dinner by listing those things and those people for whom we are most grateful, it is going to take me quite a bit longer to get to the turkey and all of the trimmings. This year has become so special for me because of the difference that each of these people has made in my life and I know that this has only been the beginning of so many more wonderful things to come. I will say extra prayers and request extra blessings for all of those people who have reached out in so many ways to help me, who honored me and who thanked me for being a part of their lives. You have made this Thanksgiving the very best one ever for me and I hope that so many of you will have had your holiday enhanced by some very new and special people that have come into your life since last year. So Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and I hope that your day of thanks is also celebrated by honoring those who have made a wonderful difference in your life.