Cold weather, high prices for everything, a world full of all kinds of trouble – sometimes it seems difficult to find something to be thankful for.
Sit, relax, pay attention – there is a lot more to be thankful for than most of the rest of the world.
Believe that.
With Thanksgiving knocking at the door, what better time to ponder why those of us in the greatest country in the world would have reason other than to shout from the mountaintops.
Ellen and me have done our share of traveling outside the country. That’s the first sign – how others live.
But it’s their world, not ours. They are happy and embracing. They are regular folks like ourselves who live in different circumstances.
In our world, gas, bank accounts, food prices – just basic living – costs more than ever. Despite all the pain, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our country right now is a mess, the rest of the world is a disaster.
So if it’s alright with y’all, I’d love to take a time out to give thanks for those in my life I care the most about.
First and foremost, beyond belief, is my better three fourths – Ellen. She has worked constantly, lives on the same mental sentence of the book, helped me with my mom while she was still alive and helps take care of her own mother.
The things she’s done for me when I might have easily died were remarkable and very telling of her love for me.
And how remorse would I be if not being thankful for the wonderful group of folks I called co-workers during my 43 years at The Virginian-Pilot? Many of them educated me, guided me, and stood back and watched as I grew to be a reporter I could be proud of.
I also must be very thankful for all of the friends I have met and grew to love over the years. Without them, life would have been more difficult than it ever would have been without them.
Who wouldn’t be thankful for all the coaches and players in every high school sport played for making 43 years covering their lives and turning it all into one of the most memorable experiences imaginable.
And anybody would be thankful for all the awards and achievements that honor the truth of what my life has been. It’s because of all of you that I fell deeply in love with being a reporter and covering high school sports.
I wouldn’t sleep a minute in a day if I didn’t give thanks to all the hunters, anglers and outdoors people who share my love of feeling the thump during the middle of the retrieve.
Those who understand know all to well that if you own a boat, you’re extremely thankful.
That big bass you got to the boat or that first trophy deer that quietly walked past the tree stand?
Oh … you’re thankful.
So think about it Thursday – stuffed to the brim and watching football on the tube – when you are thinking about how God made life a lot better than you ever thought and that person you haven’t been the same since you met her walks over with a hug, kiss and cold drink.
Given the current world, you have more to be thankful for than a whole lot of folks.
To read more my work, go to: leetolliveroutdoors.com
