Things are just moving right along this year aren’t they? Pretty hard to believe this is already the week of Thanksgiving.

Yes, this is traditionally supposed to be the one holiday where we give thanks for what we have, sit around a table with our loved ones and enjoy a fabulous feast prepared by the boss of the household.

From where most of us come from, it would probably be fair to say that the one who prepares the feast is indeed the one in charge of the family.

Don’t believe that? Just ask, see what the response is and find out.

Moving right along.

The key words being used here are traditionally. It does not mean necessarily that everyone is going to celebrate Thanksgiving sitting around a table with the entire family eating stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, pumpkin pie and the prized turkey.

Some folks may choose to celebrate it in an entirely different way.

Maybe turkey, potatoes and cranberry sauce isn’t even on the menu. Some may prefer steaks, roast chicken or even lasagna on Thanksgiving for all we know.

There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate it. To each their own.

If you and your family are able to do this this upcoming Thursday that’s wonderful. Absolutely and by all means, if you have a family tradition that is meaningful to you and yours, there is no better feeling in the world.

Take advantage of the day, and use it to spend time with your loved ones while sharing a wonderful meal. After all, it’s been a long year for many filled with amazing highs and equally amazing lows. If you are able, take the precious day off and give thanks to everything you have, even if you feel you don’t have much.

As we have talked about before if you are employed, have food to eat, a roof over your head and can feel everything from the neck down you are doing just fine.

Be thankful.

Like we always talk about how it’s important to give thanks for what we do have. Sometimes the best way in doing that is being conscientious of others, and realizing that there are plenty of those are who less fortunate and perhaps may not have much thanks to give this year.

Whether we know them or not, or even know that they exist or not there is someone out there right now that is going through something hard.

Remember, there are those right now that will not be eating wonderful home cooked meal with their loved ones. They may not have a roof over their head, have nothing to eat, or may not be able to feel everything from the neck down.

Think about it for just one second.

Holidays can be wonderful, but for many they can be a cruel reminder of something isn’t there anymore.

A lot has happened thus far this year for so many people. Right now as we speak, someone is sitting in the hospital with a loved one who is in some severe pain. The feeling of course brings on an entire mindful of emotions of uncertainty on where this could be going.

There have been many times for plenty of us who were not able to enjoy a wonderful celebration on Thanksgiving Day. Plenty of us still had to work as usual, find ourselves too far away to be with our families, or maybe just don’t have the means to make it happen this year.

With Veterans Day still fresh in many of our minds, there’s plenty of active ones right now that won’t be able to make it around the dinner table, as they are halfway around the world serving a purpose far greater than themselves.

Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean the hospitals stop working. As some of us know far too well, people still get sick and hurt on Thanksgiving. We need to give thanks to the doctors, nurses and all the other hospital staff that continue to save lives and help the wounded heal.

If we keep thinking on the subject police officers, fire-fighters and EMT’s do not get the day off either. People still make mistakes, and bad things still happen where we have to rely on our emergency personnel like any other day. Once again, we need to give thanks to these people who continue to do their jobs when they realistically deserve more than anyone to be at home with their families.

The prisons and other facilities do not get a rest either. If anything these places can end up being far busier on a holiday because make no mistake, there’s not one soul sitting in prison that does not regret that decision more on a holiday. Once again, they are human beings like the rest of us. They made a blunder that anyone could make, and have the same weaknesses we all possess. Give thanks to the correctional officers, and caseworkers that continue to work with them when they too would rather be at home with their families.

This is definitely a reality for many people, and it never hurts to take just a minute to acknowledge it.

Thanksgiving is so much more than only giving thanks for what we have, and it certainly doesn’t mean giving thanks for material possessions.

It’s appreciating everything going in the right direction, and it can sometimes be a hard thing to focus on. But even more so, it always helps to think about how hard this day can be for some. This in turn can make us so much more thankful for things going well.

And be rest assured, no matter how hard things may be right now you do have one or two things that are positive.

Now take it for what it is, and now look around at what you do have. Be thankful for your wife that never seems to stop nagging you. It’s coming from a good place because she loves you, cares for you and only wants the best for you.

Be thankful for that teenage son or daughter that would rather be with their friends on this day. Whether they know it or not, their place is right here with you on this day, and will tell you later when they’ve matured a bit more. They’re alive, healthy and growing and it’s all that matters for now. 

Now whether you know it or not, you are a wonderful parent, grandparent or sibling. We are all human beings and nobody is perfect. Give yourself a break from it today.

Just give thanks for being alive and breathing on this day, because remember there is someone who doesn’t get to anymore.

Happy Thanksgiving.