Thanksgiving Is a Time to Be Grateful & Give Thanks
One thing I am grateful and thankful for is that I am NOT a Cooked Turkey on a Table
Here are quotes from previous blogs I wrote, one of which came while serving a thirty-five federal sentence (1988-2018). Please search “Thanksgiving” or “gratitude” for more:
“Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate the holiday, and to all of those who do or do not, please take a moment to reflect on the positive aspects of life today. Personally, I begin with the obvious, my health, including all body parts that remain intact and fully functional; especially, my Eyes to See and Ears to Hear, as well as my mouth and fingertips to express what I want the world to hear and read.” https://straightfromthepen.com/2020/11/26/gratitude-2020-by-wayne-t-dowdy/
The above meal came from another time but still looks good. And the following quote comes from a blog I wrote and used a previous quote from something I wrote on Christmas about Gratitude:
Gratitude & More by Wayne T. Dowdy 12/19/2016
12/25/2011: On Christmas Day, I sat in my cell reading my favorite magazine (THE SUN). “Chow time,” the guard shouted.
I rushed to the chow hall. Inside, I sat at a rectangular table of four with three of my peers. One person stood to leave. Each of us exchanged Christmas greetings, wishing him a Merry Christmas before a 27-year-old youngster sat down to take his place.
The one who sat to the right of the youngster had just complained how the Cornish game hen was small. I had previously tried to maintain the attitude of gratitude at the table by commenting how it was good, though, it was smaller than those we had had in the past. It was still tasty. I simply agreed with the other guy about it being smaller than usual. I labeled it as a “Cornish Game Chick.”
That’s when the youngster sat down. “There sure are a lot of complaining people at this prison,” he said.
His words filled me with guilt. He had once told me that both of his parents were still in state prison. I realized his parents were probably doing worse than all of us at the table.
The youngster’s comment helped redirect the nature of our conversations toward what we were grateful for.
I shared my favorite saying by an author whose name I do know to give him or her their credit due (“I complained of having no shoes until I met a man with no feet.”).
I continued to express gratitude for the well-prepared meal; knowing we were all fortunate to have what sat before us, as we compared our plight to others incarcerated in state and other federal prisons, who probably wished they could eat as good as we were.
This is what we had to complain about: a Cornish game hen, black-eyed peas, which were really good; collard greens, rolls or wheat bread (I chose wheat bread); an individually packaged cherry pie, chocolate cup cake, and some other stuff I probably forgot. I ate my fill.
Today, I am grateful I do not have to live that way and can choose the foods I want to eat and the people I want to be around. For decades of my life that was not an option.
So, anytime the holidays come around, I remember where I came from and that fills me with gratitude and makes me thankful for situations I may want to complain about, such as now struggling to take care of financial obligations and experiencing health issues associated with aging. But, at least, I have food and shelter and am blessed with the physical and mental health I enjoy.
Even though I may not have the financial resources I desire, I am getting by, and though I cannot perform as I did in the days of my youth and am experiencing health issues, at least I am blessed with the ability to take care of myself and can do many things others my age and younger cannot do, so I don’t complain and am truly grateful for the life I live today.
Happy Thanksgiving, regardless of where you reside, because life is something to celebrate and to be thankful for when thinking of those less fortunate. Remember the people experiencing homelessness and those who do not have the basic necessities for survival. Give when you can and let your gratitude show by helping others.
To support this website, please donate any amount for the PayPal Fund Raiser by clicking Here or by purchasing Books by Wayne T. Dowdy. Thank you!