Being Grateful, Every Day
By Joan E. Thompson

Plymouth - November holds many traditional and significant days of remembrance, including: Veterans Day, National Adoption Day and Thanksgiving Day. And still more themes for the entire month such as: National Hospice Month, National Caregivers Month, National Homeless and Children’s Month. There are undoubtedly more occasions to celebrate in November than even these.

All the stated causes are targeted for remembering and appreciating – our Service men and women, people whose love of children expands to include those not born to them or those without a home even if they still have a family, people who provide the care for loved ones or “clients” so they may be comforted and comfortable in their situation of dependency and of course our national day of Thanksgiving.

With so many deserving heroes and causes, how can we ever remember and thank all we’d like? What is the best way to observe their heroic service? What can we do to spread the good results of their efforts?

I think it begins with remembering, everyday, to be grateful - grateful for each one who contributes in their own way to our well-being, even including the customer who makes room for me to step into line. How thoughtful of them to notice I only have one or two items and I sure do appreciate the time saved! But also the customer who is so harried, they step in front of me in line. The delay I experience may be just the amount of time that prevents my being in the accident about to happen on my route home. I may never know for sure, but I can be grateful my delay gave the other customer the service they were seeking. And gratitude is so much better for my health than resentment or frustration.

If only we could look at the world around us and see all it holds. That apparent delay or inconvenience may actually prevent a devastating injury. Without the framework of judging who or what is “good” or “bad,” we might discover shared human needs that reflect our similarities more than our differences. And feeling those connections, be they with strangers or friends, is surely reason to be grateful, every single day

About The Author

Joan Thompson is the Executive Director for Mayflower RSVP, Inc., a non-profit organization mobilizing Volunteer Service Activities in Plymouth County. She has directed RSVP’s Retired & Senior Volunteer Program for nearly 30 years, working with 200 public/private, health, human service, and educational organizations to provide meaningful volunteer service opportunities for members in the RSVP program. She is a trainer in Volunteer Systems Management for local and national organizations and a member of AVA, the international Association for Volunteer Administration. She may be contacted at RSVP’s Plymouth County headquarters via telephone at (508) 746 -7787 or by email at MayflowerRSVP@ Verizon.net.