500 WORDS, DAY 104: Thanksgiving

I’m thankful to each and every single person out there who decided to read this post. I’m thankful not exactly because you read this, but because you had the chance to read this, meaning that you’re alive to read it. I hope you stay that way. I’m thankful for every single person I’ve ever met and/or interacted with, because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be exactly who I am today. I’m thankful that I’ve survived crazy situations and I’m here today to write this. I’m thankful for the people that I love who are still alive, and I’m thankful for those that have passed away. I’m thankful for my wife and my family, and I’m thankful for my friends. Even the friends I’ve parted ways with I’m thankful for. I’m thankful for a lot of things. It’s good to remember that. I know we all know we should always be thankful, but it’s one thing to know it and another thing to be it. Let’s not get confused though. Life is a constant struggle. If you look at it through the lens of Buddhism, or just through a realistic one, life is actually suffering. From the moment of your birth, your mother suffers to bring you into this world, only for you to suffer as you live in it. It’s all a bunch of suffering, and yet, we can all find something to be thankful for. I know it may not seem that way right now, and I understand that your problems might seem bigger than you could ever be, but I just know that isn’t the case. Don’t get me wrong. I also have my doubts, about anything and everything, and it’s almost constant. I also feel like giving up. I have to remind myself to be thankful, and that’s what I’m doing today. These last couple of years have reminded me to be thankful for my health. I took it for granted when it was at a hundred percent, forgetting that things change and deteriorate as we grow older. I’m not dealing with anything too serious though, and I know so many other people have gone through, or are currently going through, so much worse. That teaches me to be thankful for the health I still have, which is pretty much most of it. I’m not a teenager anymore, I’m not twenty, but I’m barely turning thirty. I’m not that old either, and I’m thankful for that as well. I’m not implying that getting old is some sort of curse, because in fact, I suspect it’s just the opposite. I’ll be thankful for having grown old when I’m old, but for now I’m thankful that I’m still young. I know it’s all relative, and I’m sure I’m old already to so many kids and teens. I remember when I was in grade school, I would have considered my teacher old, but he was probably in his early thirties at the time. So, whether I’m old or young, I know my problems aren’t the end of the world, and I can get through another day, because I realize I have things to be thankful for. I believe that if this kind of mindset can prevail in our psyche, we can learn to overcome a lot of our anxiety and existential dread, and maybe even general depression. Life is crazy and scary, but I believe none of us can ever become truly blind to what a treasure it is as well. We just need to adjust our view and look at things from the right perspective. I thought I’d write about being thankful, since Thanksgiving is only a few days away, at least here in Canada. I appreciate you reading! Stay thankful.