Thanksgiving

Yes, it’s that time of year when we reflect on all the things we’re thankful for. Although some of us also wonder just why shopping has gotten to be so important. Those Black Friday sales now have Thanksgiving pre-sales. REALLY?

Well, back to the original thought – thankfulness. No ranting here.

There are many things I’m thankful for:

• My husband has been cancer-free for a year and a half.
• I have been seizure-free for five years.
• Our home
• Our family and friends
• My husband – that he’s even in my life. (he’s my rock/my life)
• My business/clients

Every night when I pray, I start with Thank You God for everyone and everything in my life. Thank you for my husband (the love of my life), our home and thank you for today. Sometimes that’s it, others I will ask for help – for family, friends, and sometimes for me.

I’m thankful for waking up in the morning. I’m thankful for the abilities I’ve been given and those I’ve learned. I’m thankful that I can type my blogs – I’m thankful that people read them!

This year Thanksgiving will be different. You see in July my step-Mom passed away. Dad had surgery in October – still healing (it’s OK that it’s a slow process). Kim – being a FEMA Inspector will be in New York.

I’m thankful that the hosts of the B&B he’s at will let him stay during the holiday. I’m thankful that I don’t have to search for a place for him to stay. I’m thankful that he’s in a safe place. I’m thankful that I can spend Thanksgiving with Dad. I’m thankful that my brother will be able to be there too. I’m thankful that Kim’s truck will get me where I need to go (it’s a wee bit beat up ’95 Dodge with a LOT of miles), it runs great and that’s what counts.

Yes, I miss my husband. But I am thankful for our cell phones! We talk every day.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Adversity? It Can’t Touch Me!

Well, I do suppose it depends on the situation and your frame of mind at the time. Kinda like do you cry over spilled milk? Or do you just let the cat/dog lick it up and then accept the love they give you?

One of my adversities was being unemployed. Part of the reason was yes, my year of record amount of seizures, the other part was not being able to find the job after the last company merged and I wasn’t needed any longer. Then of course there was the medical disability, doctors not allowing me to be in any workplace.

YES I was bored out of my mind. YES I was depressed. YES I was frustrated. I mean really – I needed to work, for my self-esteem and because we needed the income.

So, in the face of that adversity I started – slowly because I was unsure of what to do – my business. Someone had to explain to me what a virtual assistant is and that YES this is something I could do. I had everything I needed here at home.

Around the same time my husband learned about and became a FEMA inspector. Well OK, to properly describe this – he’s a sub-contracting inspector for a company sub-contracting with FEMA. Doing this has the potential to make a decent amount of money – got us caught up a bit on the bills.

However, there was a down side to this. My husband was gone for a couple of months. This may sound strange, but we’d never been apart that long. The longest is (generally) every year for his 10 day hunting trip with his brother. He is very good at adjusting to various situations; he’s a laid-back kind of guy. His adversity was being away from home and his first location was in New Orleans and was in a not-so-safe neighborhood and had guns pulled on him. He almost quit right then and there.

Fortunately (or unfortunately for the fact that there were people in need), there was another location they could send him to. The folks in Iowa had a much different mind-set.

My husband has gone on a few disasters since then. Has been in New Orleans, in sections of Illinois and is currently in New York. The adversity now? Like anyone else he hates seeing what people are going through. Fortunately his sense of humor eases up some frustration people are going through – even if it is for a short time. Laughing is always good for the soul.

Other adversities can be a very independent person breaking something – a leg, arm – and having to ask for help to get things done. This type of person hates to have to ask for anything – you try getting dressed with both of your arms broken. Fortunately, this is a short-term adversity.

How about getting a run in your pantyhose – just as you’re arriving for an interview. Then there’s anytime you have car issues and you need to get to your destination – it’s urgent.

Do you realize that adversity can go a long way toward teaching lessons? Don’t give up, you can overcome and be a better person as a result. It could be the push you needed to go in a different direction in your life and find that something that brings you happiness.

At the very least you learn to carry an extra pair or pantyhose and sign up with an auto club and whip out your trusty cell phone and let “them” know what’s happening.