Thanksgiving 2009, I'm Thankful to Have Enough

This fall has been very difficult for me. I am always learning lessons in my life. By learning them they don't need to keep happening to you. This fall has been about learning how to be satisfied with what I have. As I get to know more people from all walks of life around the world, I find myself quite wealthy in what I have. I appreciate all the gifts I've been given and the opportunities I've been given to work for what I have received. Understanding when you have enough is a hard lesson to learn because there is always more. There are always social contacts that don't understand how you are coping at the level you have. This is why I feel there shouldn't be Christmas before Thanksgiving. Christmas has turned into a corporate holiday that is focused on the values of wanting more. Thanksgiving is focused on the value of realizing you have enough.

Thankful for enough shelter:

I have my own room in a house I share with three other young adult males. While I want to have my own bathroom, I do not need it. I am thankful for the space to seclude myself in my room when I need to. I am thankful for a roof to keep out the water and walls to keep out the wind. I am thankful for the kitchen that I can use at any time to make warm food.

Thankful for enough food:

I have enough food. Earlier this fall I was not eating much because of the cost of food. My friends and family begged me to apply for foodstamps. When I did, I was instantly approved and had benefits and a card that day. I am thankful to the taxpayers who are supporting me through this hard economic time of job hunting. I am thankful for their support that allows me to buy healthy and sustaining food to keep my health and energy up during the draining work of job hunting.

Thankful for enough family and friends:

I have some of the best family and friends. I used to say that I felt like I had more than my fair share of amazing people in my life. I am thankful for each and every one of them. I am thankful that my parents have grown in ways that allow us to talk, be friends, and help each other as mature adults. I am thankful for my housemates and each of their unique strengths they bring to the house. I am thankful for all the friends and significant others over the years who have helped me to grow and develop.

I am also thankful that I will be able to see my mom this holiday season. I will not be making it back to my hometown of Port Angeles until after January because of my income juggling activities. My mom will be here for Thanksgiving dinner that my housemates and I are cooking.

Thankful for enough money to survive:

I have enough money to survive in the moment. I have been able to make payments on all my bills and pay my rent with the income I've been able to piece together. My student loans are in unemployment deferment and that will need to change soon for me to continue having the money needed to survive. I am learning this season how little one needs to really survive. I have been babysitting a lot lately and it is interesting to me how much money people spend on a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally basis. I've always held the value of minimizing spending but I haven't always lived up to that ideal. Through need I have been able to solidify my non-materialistic perspective into a sustainable mindset. I do need to be spending more eventually as necessary items do wear out, but I don't need to replace these items until it is necessary.

Thankful for enough health:

While I do have my health issues I have a lot of privileges when it comes to my health. I am able to get up, move around, take care of myself, and go where I need to go by foot or bus. I have the use of my feet to take me places, my hands to write and help me out in other ways, my eyes to see and my ears to hear. Each of these things is a wonderful gift that I appreciate. I am also thankful that my asthma has been less of a problem lately, which means less money spent on inhalers. I am thankful for my mental, emotional, and psychological health as well.

I am especially thankful that I get to model enough-ness in my everyday life. I get to help people question what the difference is between needs and wants.