Thanksgiving Gratitude

Two years ago on Veterans Day, I moved into my new house, designed and built just the way I wanted. I had never before hosted Thanksgiving at my house. When I was growing up in Houston, that was my mother’s joy – hosting the big feast. Since my sister lives in Georgia, to where my entire immediate family gravitated, she assumed the role. Until 2011. My boxes were not even unpacked (just stored out of sight). But, I was finally in my new house with my 1-year-old twins and spouse, and I wanted to show off my turkey!

This year my sister’s daughter has a new house and a 2-year-old child, and she wants to be the star of the show. She and my sister are having turf wars. I am staying out of it.

I am thankful for the opportunity and ability to be in Myrtle Beach for the entire week, spending a quiet week with my family, good books and good sleep. While I could list all the things for which I am thankful, I will spare you my personal details. Instead, I would rather share something you might find useful in the event you grow tired of football and pumpkin pie.

In addition to taking long walks on the beach, chasing my 3-year-olds and picking up shells, I will be spending the week reviewing what worked well in my life over the past one to three years, what didn’t turn out as I had planned and how I would like to see and create the next three years. It is when the mind and body are at rest that these insights can surface. It is when we are feeling thankful for what we have that we can clearly identify and receive more of what we desire.

What do you desire? How will you spend Thanksgiving? I would love for you to share what you are most thankful for or how you plan to spend your time.

Victoria L. Collier is a Veteran and Certified Elder Law Attorney, Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Co-Founder of Lawyers With Purpose LLC, and author of “47 Secret Veterans’ Benefits for Seniors—Benefits You Have Earned … but Don’t Know About.”

Comments

[admin]

Thank you for sharing, Debbie! You are probably right! I was a slow reader. As a result, I wrote a lot instead. My children love reading (all day long). I wonder what they will be when they grow up. Whatever it is, as long as it is legal and makes them happy, I will be thankful. Victoria

[Debbie J. Papay]

Victoria, I love the tile backsplash behind your range!
I am thankful for so many things I can't begin to tell you. The one that comes to mind right this minute is how my parents read to me as a preschooler. I think I am a lawyer because I did well in school. I think I did well in school because I was a good reader. I think I read well because my parents took the time, trouble, and expense, even though sometimes they were dog tired, to read to me and with me at night. Recently I found a big box of "Golden Books" from my childhood. They are all dog-eared. I'm thankful for my parents, both gone now, and I'm missing them terribly at the holidays. Debbie