22 Days of Thanksgiving

This "game" is taking Facebook by storm.  Every year it begins on Facebook -- every day, beginning November 1st, you post something that you're thankful for.  I did it last year.  But this year as November 1st came and went, I made a somewhat conscious decision not to get into it this year.  Why?  Because some people (myself included) see the posts and think, "Congratulations, you have...  Why do you feel the need to post it on Facebook?  Maybe we don't care." 

And I still felt that way as I saw the barrage of comments about thankfulness on November 2nd and most of the 3rd.  Seriously - I'm happy that you have stuff to be thankful for.  So do I.  Why do we feel this need to share it all over Facebook?  It's not really people sharing their blessings.  It's bragging about the people in our lives or the things that we have.  It's a big "In Your Face!" to everyone on our friend list.  For example, we post that we're thankful for the wonderful husband we have who works hard, etc.  And secretly we're thinking, "Because I know Janie So-and-So's husband is a real loser...maybe she'll get the message when she reads this." 

Then, last night (November 3rd), I spent the evening working at our Church's Annual Turkey Supper.  I talked to people I've known forever, some newer friends, and some I'd just met.  As I looked at all the people working with me, all the people enjoying the dinner, and all the camaraderie in general happening around me, I realized what a bad attitude I had about this harmless game.  Here I stood in the middle of a room with nearly six hundred people that came to eat, to share their time with others, and to be thankful together.  I was so ... THANKFUL! to be part of it.  

And it dawned on me - people aren't bragging or writing these posts to make others feel bad.  They are truly sharing with the world (or at least our online part of it) how they feel to be surrounded by the people that they love, and how much they enjoy the things they have.  For a change it's not a post about, "This person makes me so mad," or "I wish I had ..."  It's a simple statement about being satisfied and appreciative of who and what we have.  Instead of taking time to be negative, they're taking time to be positive and share the experience of being thankful with others.  And couldn't we all use a little less negativity and a lot more happy?! 

So, look for me to start posting what I'm thankful for!  And Facebook friends, I'm sincerely happy that you have so many wonderful things to be thankful for in your lives!