Feeling thankful

It may seem cliché, but I am feeling thankful after my long weekend in celebration of Thanksgiving.

I’ve been telling everyone I run into over the last few weeks that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s a uniquely American holiday, although that’s not my motivation for liking it so much; primarily, I enjoy it because of its simplicity.

Although there’s a lot of food, it’s simple food.

There aren’t any gift requirements or obligations.

It’s a chance to surround yourself with family (including your chosen family) and celebrate each other by eating and drinking and talking and laughing.

This year my Thanksgiving was something of a roller coaster of emotions. It was the first time we’ve had a chance to cook a huge meal in our new kitchen, and it continues to please us what a difference it makes in our lives. It was one of our biggest Thanksgivings ever, at 20 people. It included people we’ve known for over 30 years and people we’ve only just met.

But it was also my first holiday since the passing of my grandmother, and she was in my mind throughout the day. I had a chance to speak to my grandfather on the phone; he had spent the morning peeling potatoes for my aunt, and he sounded pretty spirited.

As I mark the passage of time and the loss of loved ones, I have to remind myself that life continues around me. Sometimes I get so caught up in my own head that I forget other people aren’t experiencing the same thoughts and feelings I am.

In my ultimate quest to be truly understood, I forget to understand others.

And so, for this awareness, and for the love I feel from those around me, I’m feeling thankful.