It’s almost the time of year when most people in the U.S. celebrate Thanksgiving. Throughout the year, I notice people share thankfulness, but sometimes it is in comparison to others. For example, they’ll say, “there but for the grace of God, there go I” or “when I look at what they are going through, it makes me appreciate my life so much more.”

I am sure it’s not intended, but when I hear it, the implication is that thankfulness is rooted in how different our lives are from others.

These days, I am encouraged to be thankful for my life on its own merit.

I don’t want to be thankful because I have something different or more than someone else. I want to be thankful because my life, every day, is a testament to the journey I have bravely walked and the village of amazing people who have contributed to me and my journey.

I turned 51 nearly a month ago and I have five decades to look back on tap into for gratitude and a joy from my path to today.

This blog is simple and to the point. It is a reminder and an encouragement to me and maybe for you that our lived experiences, our joys, challenges, sorrows, wins, and everything in between and without are enough for us to sit in our gratitude.

Have a lovely holiday.