November - Month Of Thanks: Days 6-11

In my daily virtual roaming in the world of Facebook, a few people have taken part in what I think is a growing tradition or trend:  during the month of November, the month of Thanksgiving, people are taking a moment each day of the month and state something that they are thankful for.

 

Here is the second post. I think you’ll sense a theme here…

11/6 – DEMOCRACY:  I’m going to focus on what I think the intent of democracy is, in my words, and stay away from the opinions of how far we as a nation may have drifted from this, or if we ever were truly there, etc ., etc. 

Merriam-Webster’s definition:  a: government by the people; especially: rule of the majority. b) a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections

My understanding of democracy, based on the above, is a system where the common, average, ordinary person has a chance to express their needs and wants, and choose an individual to represent those needs to the group of people responsible for shaping the direction of the country we call home. This is a system of the people. I think this is a fascinating concept, especially in comparison to many of the more restrictive, less attempted-representative systems of government that exist. The system, for it to work, demands involvement by all. Demands it. What other system even allows that, never mind demands it? What other system, by design, allows for everyone’s voice to be heard, in theory? How many other systems out there are subject to the whims and psychoses and greed of a single individual or very small group of individuals? How many people truly suffer in those other systems, compared to our system of Democracy? Again, say what you will about its flaws and shortcomings, and there are many opinions out there, but I’m thankful for what we have here. 

What other system are we free to express our opinions? Which leads me to…

11/7 – FREEDOM:  I’m not going to attempt to narrow my focus on what I mean here. Even though this is going to turn out to be a somewhat political-based post, I don’t necessarily mean political freedom here, even though it is included. I mean basic freedom. Freedom to express your opinion, freedom to be who you want to be, and freedom to do what you need to do and want to do. Of course, freedom has its boundaries in decency towards others and carries with it a responsibility to itself, but freedom can be, well, freeing. When your true self is allowed to shine, and when your true self created and breeds success, and transforms into confidence and progress, is there anything better? Without freedom, who would we be, individually and collectively? I’m absolutely thankful for freedom.

But freedom wouldn’t exist without…

11/8 – RIGHTS:  Again, I’m not going to attempt to narrow my focus on what I mean here, beyond the below definition:

Merriam-Webster’s definition:   qualities (as adherence to duty or obedience to lawful authority) that together constitute the ideal of moral propriety or merit moral approval

And again, I’m not going to get into a list of specific rights, and how that list is determined, and where lines get drawn, etc. But, the fact that it is recognized that we do have rights, and that those rights are protected, debated, challenged and upheld, is another concept that I think gets overlooked during the specific debating that occurs. We do have rights, and that is very important to recognize and be thankful for. As I posed above with freedom, and the same goes for Democracy:  without having our rights protected (in general), who would we be, individually and collectively? 

So, with the various freedoms and rights that exist, with those come...

11/9 – OPPORTUNITIES:   

Merriam-Webster’s definition:   a good chance for advancement or progress

Again (broken record), I’m not going to attempt to narrow my focus on what I mean here. In fact, I’m going to purposely state that my focus on the words “advancement” and “progress” is in the broad sense, not the narrow sense. There are many opportunities every day, in the advancement of/progress in:  career, success, happiness, life; big or small, easy or hard, clear or subtle. 

 

We need to be thankful for all of our opportunities, even when it appears and feels at times that those are limited or even non-existent. 

 

I have been fortunate enough to have had many opportunities along the way, from the opportunity to go to college, to the opportunities I’ve had in the lives that I have touched and that have touched me, as I mentioned in my first post. I am thankful for the opportunities of lessons learned along the way, though sometimes painful. I am thankful to the many opportunities to have a successful job which gives me the freedom to pursue the hobbies and things in life that make me happy. For really, I think in the end, I am thankful for…

11/10 – HAPPINESS:   Because happiness isn’t guaranteed. Happiness isn’t constant, or steady. Happiness can disappear at any point. However, happiness is always possible, and I firmly believe that. And I am very empathetic to those who are struggling to find happiness in their current situation; when things seem bleak, and life is tough. Very empathetic. Sometimes happiness, as an abstract distant concept, is just enough to hold on to, to keep us walking forward, progressing. 

 

So, yes, I am thankful for happiness. Thankful for when I have it in abundance, but also thankful that, when it seems to be missing, that it is always possible.

11/11 – VETERANS:  What amazes me about Veterans is that fact that they literally put their lives on the line to protect the concepts listed above. And this is regardless of whether someone actively sought out being in the military, to those who felt that maybe it was their only viable option, the fact remains, and it can’t be understated, that they literally put themselves in harm’s way; a very real, distinct, harsh version of harm. I don’t think I will ever understand what it is like to wake up in a strange place, under combat, thousands of miles away from home, knowing that today might be your last day, but you have a job to do that an entire nation’s existence relies on you doing that job, to the best of your ability, under that level of pressure. I will never be able to comprehend that. Our veterans truly deserve our total thanks and gratitude and understanding and support for that. Period. And, as my fellow blogger has stated in response to this holiday, and other holidays as well:  even though it is great and important that we have a day set aside to commemorate Veterans, our thanks for their sacrifices should NOT be limited to this one day.

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Again, I encourage everyone to at least think about the things you’re thankful for. Times are tough all over the place; there is a lot of stress and pressure and pain and suffering out there in the circles I’m in, and I feel it. Being thankful may not take any of that away, but hopefully create just enough of a positive feeling to make life just a little bit brighter.