A lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving

Over many generations the customs attendant to the national day of thanks, which, we observe and celebrate on Thursday, have become rooted in lore and practice. Understandably, given the origins and history, the celebration centers very much on a meal, shared with family and friends.

Food — an abundance when possible – is required to do this the way most people do. Fellowship, with relatives, friends and neighbors, is also part of the recipe. This is the ease throughout these United Stat as. where specifics of food choices and activities vary from region to region* and within different ethnic and religious groups. This is as it should he. everyone celebrating a special day, in their own way, and very often in the way their family has handed down.

This poses difficulty for those who no longer are surrounded by loved ones they remember from years ago With holidays such as this being seen as a time to dwell on the people closest to US. whether here or gone, the absence of some of those people or of pest good fortune does not have to limit our sense of gratitude. Gratitude, ultimately, is at the core of the holiday celebration

There are many negatives w could think of if we wished. But doing so on this day is not going to make a person feel better

Rather, we recommend that this be a time for an overall inventory. Whether together with loved ones or alone, the thanks we can give are for those things we have right now. starting with each of us individually.

The mere living of life is a starting point. Everyone has something to be thankful for. and that is where the focus must be, once those assets, emotional or otherwise, are recognized

That having been said, we have looked at some things which, since we are all bound by geography, we thought peo-ple can include on their lists.

First and foremost we are grateful that we live in this verdant and special place, a region that is rich with natural resources and beauty, when we choose to see and recognize it

The egret that stands sentry on the bay outside or canal that we pass. The fish that pass below the surface of those waterways. The abundance of shellfish and other sea creatures here is unparalleled. We get to buy and eat them at rack bottom prices, unless we are catching them ourselves in which case the cost drops significantly.

Although we recognize that there are political differences between many of us. we are grateful that the community leaders we have are dedicated to the jobs they do We might not agree with bow they do those jobs all the time, and that’s what elections are for. But there is little doubt that elected officials here are working hard with the priorities the have set for the time being

It can be difficult to maintain a mindset of gratitude at a time when our finances in this region have taien hard hits. Some people have lost jobs. Same have lost entire businesses. But in most cases despite such misfortune we have seen case after case where people have risen above that adversity and found ways to survive. There must be gratitude for that type of resilience within the self

On the special day when people gather and give thanks, we also wish to remember the people whose time with family members is shortened because of work responsibilities. It is very true that at one time just about everything shut down on Thanksgiving. But today – at retail outlets and convenience stores, people must work on the holiday We John those stalwarts in their prayers of thanks because there are jobs to be had. And we are grateful for the sacrifices they make. Likewise we are grateful for emergency reap orders, police, firefighters and medics, and the many people working in our region’s hospitals, because their sacrifices of time and dedication must also not go unappreciated and unmarked. These are just a few suggestions of things to be thankful for and which we all should be thankful for.

Here at Rushing Media we are also thankful for you, our read era, because without you we would be publishing for naught. Thank you for your loyalty and your appreciation for the work we try to do on your behalf.

Thank you for your loyalty and your appreciation for the work we try to do on your behalf.’