26 November 2008 - Thanksgiving Thoughts

Thanksgiving Thoughts
Wednesday 26 November 2008

The past couple of days have been occupied with household chores. The water pump broke on Sunday and I replaced it on Monday. Interestingly, it took as much time, 30 minutes, as I had anticipated. Usually plumbing chores take at least two or three stops at the hardware store and two to three times what I had estimated to complete the job.

On Tuesday, I regrouted the kitchen floor tiles. It looks like a new floor now - not that hard to do but results in a high visual impact. Having completed that, I decided to tackle the remainder of the downstairs floors. There was no need to regrout the tiles but the grout needed to be cleaned to restore them to "white".

I used a copper brush, toothbrush and vinegar to clean the grout. It worked very well and didn't take too much elbow grease. Part way through the job, Duang joined me in cleaning the floors. She ended up finishing when I got tired. I spot repaired small sections of the grout this morning.

Now we have nice and clean floors. Sort of like animals marking their territory we are establishing our dominance over the house.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We will not be celebrating with a traditional meal. The logistics were too complicated. However the lack of turkey, candied yams, and all the other traditional Thanksgiving foods will not prevent us from celebrating the day.

I have explained the significance of the day to Duang and she understands it although she is a little confused in that she believes it to be similar to December 5 (King's Birthday - "Father's Day") and August 12 (Queen's Birthday - "Mother's Day") along with New Year's . She grasps the concept which is important. The details will come later.

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays - even more than Christmas. Thanksgiving lacks the expectations and emotions of Christmas. Thanksgiving is more of a celebration with reflection as opposed to the materialism of Christmas. It is on Thanksgiving that we always had a wonderful traditional meal with family. Everyone was relaxed and in good spirits. Although everyone may not have started out in good spirits, the drinks served before, during, and after the meal always managed to get them into better if not good moods.

I have always reflected upon the things that I was thankful for - not necessarily just on Thanksgiving. However it was on Thanksgiving that there is more of a focus to communicate with others.

This year is no different. I will share with Duang what I am thankful for.

I have been fortunate in my life. I enjoy telling people that as a child I could have anything that I wanted ... after a pause I whimsically interject "As long as I could pay for it". At an early age I learned that if I wanted something bad enough, it was worth working for. This early expectation from my parents, taught me the value and satisfaction of working to achieve an objective. At an early age I learned and grew to appreciate the need to make decisions based upon my personal standards and values.

The consequence of these decisions was accepting that I would have to work, and save to eventually obtain what I wanted. The rewards of my decisions were obtaining what I desired and the self satisfaction of accomplishment.

I remember my first large purchase. I wanted an umbrella tent from Sears so that I could "camp out" in the back yard. The tent cost $17 in 1958. At the time, I had a paper route and made about $1.50 a week.

I still fondly remember my pride and sense of accomplishment the day we went to Sears so that I could bring home "my" tent with my money.

I did not get my license to drive until I was 18 years old. I could have gotten it sooner - as soon as I could pay for a car and pay for the car insurance. The summer of my sixteenth birthday, I spent all but 6 days at the beach - even on rainy days. I was more interested in having fun than working to drive a car. I did not need a car - my friends had cars! I spent the following summer working to save the required money to buy a car and pay for insurance.

I eventually got my license on my 18th birthday - I believe it was on a Thursday. On Saturday, I left in my $50 1958 Ford Fairlane for Maine to see a friend. Again I had the sense of accomplishment and pride as well as independence in having set a goal that was achieved.
Rather than reflect upon what I have and to give thanks for what material possessions I have, I am thankful for what I am.

I am happy.

There are many things that I do not have. There are even more things that I could have better or more of.

I am content.

More and better possessions will not necessarily make me or anyone else happy or content. Happiness and contentment are a state of mind.

It is the longing and preoccupation with what they do not have that prevents so many people from being happy.

I am thankful that I am satisfied with what I have.

I am thankful that I am confident that I can have anything that I want if I am willing to wait and work for it.

I am thankful that I know that I do not need everything that I don't have or many of the things that I want.

These are trying times in the world today. The economic conditions are serious and intimidating. It is very easy to become overwhelmed about what negative things could happen.

I suspect that, especially in America, people are concerned and preoccupied with what the government can or will do to make things better for them - to solve their problems. Creating and giving away money will be no more of a solution or cure than putting a band aid on a cancerous tumor. It may be aesthetically better for awhile but the problem remains and only worsens.

Expecting others to do things for you and to solve your problems is to set your expectations too high - Who says that they will? What makes you think they want to? What makes you think that they can?

I am thankful that I am confident and convinced that I have the power and ability to solve my problems.

One purpose in this blog is to share with the readers how people in other parts of the world live. They are happy and content. They live very differently than people in the western world. Between how we previously lived in America and the way that they currently live, there is a great deal of latitude to be happy.

I am living a life in that zone and I am happy.

Getting to this point in my life has not been an individual achievement. Many people have influenced and contributed to my evolution to this point.

I am grateful and thankful to all who have taught, influenced, touched, trained and showed me how to be the person that I am today - especially my Mom and Dad.

My wish for everyone this holiday season is that you too can realize that "So often we live our lives in chains not knowing that we have the keys to set ourselves free..." ("Already Gone", Eagles) and be able to take action to become free and happy.