Feeling the Thanks You Give

Today is meant to be a day of special consideration. A day to be thoughtful about what we value in our lives. To express that value through gratitude. If Thanksgiving were an equation, it could look something like this: Reflection + Awareness x Expressed Gratitude = Unrealized Happiness.

It is important that we do this for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is to nourish our emotional health. Since my latest post, Taking Chances or Paralyzing Odds, I’ve had several people reach out and make comments about “feeling”. That is, certain events or stories causing them to feel more of the world around them. A new friend of ours through ADSL commented that, since their plunge into the world of ADSL, she’s noticed that she tends to feel everything more. Another friend, who happens to be exceptionally gracious, said, “I read so much crap every day, current events, politics, spiritual blog posts, sports, food and drink, etc. Your blog posts consistently make me think and feel more than all the others combined.” Now, I would argue that his opinion is extremely biased, and it is. He’s a good friend. But the underlying point is simple.

We’re all searching to feel something. Perhaps something more than we typically allow ourselves to feel throughout the daily hustle. Yet, at the same time, we are all feeling-averse and for very different reasons. Some lack awareness. Others are more intentional avoiders–feeling is indeed painful. Some are insecure about what or how to feel. And still others have filled their days with so much crap that they’ve become desensitized and hardened.

I say all this to say, whatever your hurdle is, stop and take a moment to feel something today. Take a few minutes to test the equation I mentioned above, and see if I’m right.

Today, my family is particularly grateful for the unique role that each of you plays in our life, as a support system, as friends, as family. Happy Thanksgiving from the Wilson clan.