The Gift of Thanksgiving

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Being thankful and grateful is an everyday mindset. For me I am thankful for every new day that I see. I have learned that life should not be taken for granted, and it is a blessing for every new day that we see. Every since 2005 when I had an aneursym my life has greatly changed. Things I am most thankful for on today is the life that God gives each and every one of us.

God has given me the gift of life, and I am thankful for the opportunity to expience his goodness in my life. With everyday I try to make a difference in someone else's life which is my way of showing my gratefulness. No matter if it is something just as small as giving someone a compliment seeing them smile is a blessing.

• The gift of happiness - happiness is a gift if you realize it can belong to you everyday. No one can steal your happiness unless you allow them to. No matter what happens in life we can make a choice to be happy. We never will understand why somethings happen in our life, but there is always a bigger picture. I am thankful for my new outlook on life to chose to be happy everyday even when something goes wrong. Understanding that happiness is a state of being is a blessing. Knowing that happiness comes from within our hearts and spirit is also a blessing. I am thankful for the gift of happiness.

• Knowing the gift of joy is an awesome experience.  If you have ever had a day without joy think about how you felt that day, now imagine feeling that way day after day after day.  To know joy, and to have it is a gift and a blessing for this I am thankful. 

• Having a place to call home is a blessing. If someone has experienced being homeless they will understand what a blessing it is to have a place called home. During the years when I was homeless I thought I dreamed of having somewhere to live. Having the aneursym I lost my apartment, and had to live from shelter to shelter. Living from place to place is very uncomfortable, and unhealthy. This day I am thankful God has blessed me with a place I can call my own. Being able to have a key that goes to my own front door is a blessing. When I look and see others living on the street with no place to go my heart goes out to them. Chicago has a tremendous housing problem. If I had not gonen through the process of looking for shelter I would have never known first hand what a big problem it is in Chicago with housing. This day I thank God for a safe place to sleep at night.