The Components of Being Thankful

By Laura Goodman

There are so many components to being thankful that don’t get acknowledged because they don’t have their own day. But I’m going to change that right here. On Thanksgiving, I thought about being thankful, which led me to think about the words that encompass being thankful to me. This exercise is an outcome of having participated in a couple of WordView conversations at Compassionate Courage where each month we spend time together analyzing a certain word. These insightful discussions have made me more thoughtful when I contemplate “big” words and have made me not rely on hazy definitions, but to rethink meanings and even my connection to the word.

Thankful for others. To be thankful for the people in my life, even those I briefly encounter, means that I respect them for who they are at the moment of interaction, that I accept them without putting requirements on them—or on myself. These casual relationships are key, it feels sometimes, to maintaining a balanced view of the world, one that doesn’t rely on the waves of negativity in the news. Human interactions, yes, I am thankful for them.

Thankful for key relationships. As the Thanksgiving meal is composed of the main dish and numerous sides and desserts, so, too, are relationships, where the key relationships are as the turkey or vegan loaf at the center of the table. These are the people who I love, who receive my admiration because their presence enlivens me, makes me excited to reach out and try new things, to see what tomorrow will bring, to bask in the glow of contentedness that flows to and from.

Thankful for this moment. To be thankful for my breath at this moment means that at some level I have overcome the guilt I may feel when comparing myself against others. Conversely, it also means that I have won over the envy of others, even if it is a truce, so that I can shed resentments to enjoy the now. Working through/with these emotions may have even brought me to a feeling of contentment, where there is no “what else” or “what if,” only “what is.” To have that acceptance means that at some level I am satisfied and to be satisfied means that I am grateful, acknowledging the moments, painful and joyful, that brought me to this moment.

Thankful for the things that surround me. There is always more and there is always less, sometimes to a dramatic degree. At times it is important to sit in stillness, to acknowledge that I don’t need much to be thankful for life. A friend recently told me how important correct breathing is to our health, which made me realize the importance of the basic components of life. 

May we have time--even a moment--to recognize ourselves, to settle into ourselves, to strengthen ourselves, to be within this moment of thankfulness.

I give thanks, too, that you have read my words. Such a simple and profound act of giving and receiving. An acknowledgment of presence. Which is as important when bringing together people to share a meal as it is when trying to bridge the chasms that exist within our society. For how can I be fully thankful for what I have when I acknowledge what others do not have. Perhaps the recognition of the gaps between us--and knowing that they should not exist, that they must be closed--can we start filling in the empty spaces between us. 

 I hope they have brought you some comfort at this moment in your life.