A Thanksgiving Reminder for Myself

By Tammy Davis Moshier

 

It’s All About the Attitude

I wrote this essay for Thanksgiving right after the flood of 2015.  I am finding it harder than ever to keep myself in a state of gratitude, but I know it is the way I want to live my life.  I’m thankful I have this essay to look back on as a good reminder for myself.

I know my mother is going to make us go around the room and tell what we’re thankful for before we eat our Thanksgiving lunch.  I will probably take the easy route and say something lighthearted like, “I’m glad I didn’t have to cook this year” or “I’m glad I don’t have to watch for nails as I walk through the house” or “I’m glad for FEMA and flood insurance” or “I’m glad I almost have Bruzer’s surgery paid off” or “I’m glad Aunt Jenny made macaroni and cheese.”  Those things are all true statements.

Those are my superficial answers.  Everyone will smile.

But I have been giving much thought to the one thing I am most thankful for this year, and it is simply my attitude.

I’m thankful that I can continue to be thankful.

I’m thankful that despite all the chaos in my life I can still wake up and come up with a list of hundreds of things I appreciate.

I’m thankful that I not only believe in my heart but can execute each day through my actions, my belief that the only thing I can control is my attitude.

I’m not sure who gets the credit.  My parents and the way they raised me? All the thousands of sermons that registered in my brain over the years?  All the self-help books I’ve read?  I guess it doesn’t matter.  Somewhere along the line, somehow through life’s trials and tribulations, it clicked with me, and it stuck.  I can only control the way I react to any given situation.  I can only control my attitude.

Many, many years ago I was going through a difficult time, and every night I would pray the same prayer, “Lord, please don’t let this make me bitter.”

Every night the same prayer.  “Keep my heart open.  Keep my spirit positive.  Please don’t let this make me bitter.”  This prayer routine went on for months, and one day it dawned on me.

Choosing my attitude-sour or sweet- didn’t have to be an act of God.  I could make a decision.  I could decide every day if was I going to focus on what made me sad or if I was I going to focus on what made me happy.  I could choose anxiety or I could choose peace.  I could fill my heart with resentment or appreciation.

I think the way God answered that prayer for me was to say “Hey!  You don’t need ME for that one.  You can do that for yourself.  Just make a decision.  Make up your mind to control your attitude.  It’s YOUR attitude. It’s YOUR heart.”

So on this Thanksgiving Day, I’m thankful that I have diet coke in the cooler that is on my porch.  I’m thankful for the Black Friday deals and the wonderful man at Lowes who helped me get everything I needed for my new kitchen.  I’m thankful for the cute sweater that I will wear today from Melissa Szymanski.  I’m thankful that Laura has wireless.  I’m thankful that Will got a hair cut.  I’m thankful that Bruzer is learning to use his doggie ramp. I’m thankful that I have the day off tomorrow. I’m VERY glad to hear the sound of clothes drying in the dryer.  I’m thankful that Lowes sells paint samples for $3. I could fill a page quickly.  I am truly thankful for all of these things.

But most of all, I am thankful that my heart and spirit are still open and can still see the good that is in my life.  I’ll step over the stack of molding on the front porch and squeeze through the old appliances that are on my back porch.  I’ll wind my way around the commode and the garbage disposal and the pedestal part of my pedestal sink that are piled up on the porch.  I’ll make my way through the downstairs chaos and upstairs into calm.  I’ll climb into my own warm bed with my warm dog and drink my very cold diet coke.  I will say, “Thank you, Lord.  Thank you, Universe.  Life is good.”

I’m thankful that I can be thankful.  I’m thankful that my heart is still full of thanksgiving.

That’s too much to say today at my mother’s house before we are allowed to eat, but that is my true answer to my mother’s annual question.

I’m thankful that I can be thankful.

 

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