9 reasons to be a thanksgiver, not a humbugger9 reasons to be a thanksgiver, not a humbugger

You’ll likely read this somewhere between Thanksgiving and Christmas — depending on whether you catch it on our website or in the magazine. While driving up and across New York and down through Pennsylvania recently, I got to thinking about how blessed we are to live in a land of unequaled abundance and natural resources — and at this particular time.

It’s always wise to, as a long-ago-written song put it, “Count your blessings; name them one by one,” no matter what your faith. If nothing else, it helps you balance out the ridiculous and atrocious events of life.

9 reasons to count your blessings
You and I have a multitude of reasons for counting them daily, not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here’s a short starter list for you to develop into a longer one:

• Got a home? Even in America, many don’t.

• Got a car or pickup? Many have neither.

• In an occupation you love? Many have jobs they hate — if they have jobs.

• Raising your family on a farm? That’s a huge blessing!

• Own or partially own a farm business? Few in America have such a “stake.”

• Feel relatively safe from harm’s way? Most of the world doesn’t.

• Got enough food to last a week? Many don’t have enough for one day.

• Got kids, maybe grandkids, working for you? Those count double.

• Got true friends — people who’ve seen your lesser side — who still like and trust you?

So what else are you thankful for? Don’t forget to share your list with others, and urge them to do likewise.

Bite-sized morsel
When your vocation and avocation are the same, you're extremely blessed.