Thanksgiving is over so it is now appropriate to turn from thankful turkeys to hateful holiday hams, right? Wrong.
It's nice to see people being thankful in the month of November - not as nice as the beards that sprout up that month, but nice nonetheless. I just have to question the sincerity of some of it.
Most people post to Facebook all the things they are thankful for throughout the month, but it seems slightly insincere and a little showy. I understand it's a theme and a trend and some see it as a good opportunity to reflect on things they should appreciate more, but why November? Why not every day?
I think my bitterness as of late stems from the transition of Black Friday, something I've never been on board with, butting its way into Thanksgiving.
I feel like Thanksgiving barely exists anymore. It's like people can't wait until pumpkin pie signals the end of dinner so they can run out, trample each other and put all the simple pleasures in life on the back burner in a quest for material things.
I, for one, try not to take to Facebook to complain too often. I like to keep it light, but I find myself in my own moments of self-pity much more than I'd like to admit. So, in my reflection on the things I do not have or want, I look for the opportunity to recognize what I do have and I do so after Thanksgiving, because gratitude should be a daily practice. Every minute we breathe should be cherished.
Things I complain about and why I should be thankful:
Gossip
Woe: People gossip and start rumors which lead to inaccuracies in my personal life. This, many times, has caused me heartache and hardships. Why can't people just worry about themselves and their own lives? What do they gain by involving and speaking of the goings-on in my world?
Pro: Word of mouth isn't always a bad thing. As much as people may speak of me in a bad light, there are also those who see my value and worth and that not only makes me feel good, it also occasionally gets me work. I recently did a makeup trial for a stranger who is getting married in the spring. How did she find me? People were talking about me. While there are those who may speak ill of our lives, there are also positive people applauding our merits as human beings for the talents we may possess.
Money
Woe: I'm not rich. I wish I would hit the lottery or just stumble upon bags of money with my name on it for no particular reason but guided by the thought that more money will make me happier.
Pro: I am rich. I have great friends and a family more amazing than any gal could ever ask for. That in itself makes me rich. I'm kind to others as often as I can be and make an effort to smile at strangers and be generally pleasant for the better part of my days. I also have a warm house, a car, a nice comfy bed and all the modern-day electronic luxuries like television, a smart phone, a computer, and most importantly, devices which allow me to listen to music, which guides me and has gotten me through some of the more trying things I've encountered in life.
I can't expect to have money fall into my lap. I work hard for what I have, and although I get in the mind-set that it's never enough, there are those who truly live in poverty who lack the material things that I have and, unfortunately, some even lack the love I'm lucky enough to have from those I surround myself with.
Money isn't everything and although it may solve some problems, it doesn't equal happiness.
Weight
Woe: I wish I could lose like 15 pounds.
Pro: I'm generally healthy. I'm well within normal range when it comes to BMI, weight and all those numbers we love to hate. I could nitpick 100 things a day that I may not like about myself, but torturing myself over the idea that dropping 15 pounds will lead to a newfound love for my physique is irrational.
I can afford to eat healthy, and, for the most part, I try to, and I'm active enough to dodge the deadly sin of sloth. To be comfortable in one's own skin is more important than any number on a scale and we should celebrate what we've got instead of constantly depriving ourselves in efforts to reach unrealistic and, in some cases, unhealthy goal weights.
Drama
Woe: Why is there is so much drama around me?
Pro: Concern for others is what makes me feel like I make a difference in the world. Drama is ever present in the modern world and it's very easy to get wrapped up in, but there is value in being there for others through difficult times.
There are times we overstep boundaries, but, in general, caring about people and being there for them is not a bad thing. We just need to know our place and not make others' business too much of our own. Many times, it's better to stay out of things which do not concern you, as I mentioned before in addressing gossip, but once in a while, lending your ear as a stranger or someone outside the situation can shed some light and spark positivity toward a brighter outlook.
And we could all use a brighter outlook. Not just on Thanksgiving. Not just when things are going right. But every day and every moment we're given in this life.
(Wasakoski, a News-Item editor, is a graduate of Von Lee School of Aesthetics and is certified as a professional makeup artist)