I understand.
I understand times are hard.
I understand it's tough to give thanks for anything based on what we’re all enduring mentally and emotionally.
Trust me. I've had my fair share of breakdowns and wishful thinking during a time when the future looks bleak.
In those moments, I can't help but obsess over why my wedding couldn't have been the day my now wife and I imagined it, why we can't travel to Greece for our honeymoon or why we can't expand our social circle for celebratory gatherings.
I'm sure I'm not the first to say I wish COVID-19 could take a hike sooner than later or that I wish it never happened.
Bottom line, I can't, and almost all the time, it sucks.
Patience has become a virtue of high importance in society as we wait for people much smarter than we are trying to understand this virus and what it will take to rid it from our very existence.
We’ve had to make sacrifices not just for society around us, but for ourselves too.
So, in this season, in spite of all the chaos (yes, election included), perhaps we can take a step back and be thankful for a few important things.
Friends. The bedrock of community companionship.
Whether we see them in person in our bubbles, standing six feet away, across the dinner table or through the window, cherish each one of them.
Food. What sustains us and brings everyone together.
A good meal goes a long way and the hands who prepare them should be commended because let’s face it, Thanksgiving dinners take time and care.
Family. The most important people in your life.
These are the ones you lived, laughed and loved the most just as they did with you too.
I’m not saying there’s no perfect family, but I think we can all find a way to positively thank each other for simply being there when we need them most.
Finally, let’s be thankful for those trying to keep us healthy and at peace during this pandemic.
Healthcare workers, front-line workers, doctors, surgeons, physicians, teachers, servers, mechanics, mail carriers, grocery clerks, cashiers, etc., etc., etc.
Just call them ‘Masked Avengers’ because they’re keeping a watchful eye on the things we need and the health we all deserve.
So, however you’re choosing to be thankful this year, try to make the most of it.
As Dr. Bonnie Henry has always said, this isn’t forever.
So, give thanks, be humble and show some kindness.
