As each of us think about sitting down for that special dinner that Thanksgiving Day offers, realize that it’s much more than eating a turkey, cranberries and pumpkin pie.  Think about what this day really means.  It’s not really about the so-called Pilgrims, even though that’s the mythical story that we celebrate.  No, the true meaning of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for what we have and the freedoms we enjoy each day.

Thanksgiving is about having gratitude for having friends and family that we love and care about.  It’s about being able to do more than you ever thought possible.  It’s the ability to wake up each day and know that you can do with each moment what you want.  Whether or not you want to use those moments for their best and highest purpose is up to you.  You have that choice.

This a day of thanks and gratitude.  Make it your best day ever and each day after that the same.  Now is the time to make excellence count.  And count your blessings that you have that choice to do so.  Be grateful.  Also be grateful that you can surround yourself with the best of the best.  They are out there.  I know that I have that in my life.

I am grateful for people like Dr. Lori Shemek, her brother Mark Rickert, Jerry McGowan, my nephew Eric Powell, The Bikini Chef Susan Irby, Arlene Maldonado, Curtis Yang, Jason Scott Johnson, April LaFontaine, Internationally known hypnotist Tom Silver, the U.S. Marines and other branches of the military, and so many others that I’ve met and yet to meet.  I am further grateful for all my family, I love them all.  I think of the lessons that my friend, Jose Cuadra, taught me about patience over the course of 5 1/2 years of knowing him.  His autism showed me another way of thinking.

I am thankful for the challenges and setbacks in my life.  For they have taught me so many valuable lessons that I never got from higher education.  I continue to be grateful for what the future holds, knowing that I can contribute positively towards from what I do in the present.

I am thankful for being alive and being able to write this.  I am thankful for each of my readers of this blog, my other words and so forth.  THANKS!

Blessings and gratitude to each of you,

Bob