Last night I wrote about finding the good in all things.

Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States. So it seems appropriate I would write a little on gratitude.

Recently I had a lot of car problems. My 2013 Jeep Wrangler lost its brakes and needed a new battery. Within a week of having those repairs taken care of I was rear-ended. My Jeep was in the shop for 32 days. After being released from the body shop, I learned the gas tank no longer held gas (I am not kidding!!) Once that repair was completed I learned my battery cables we ruined…back to the body shop for another repair. And if all that were not enough…as I drove for the battery repair, my windshield wiper flipped off the arm and is no longer functional.

What does this have to do with Thanksgiving? Nothing really…but it is a good example of remaining grateful.

There were times throughout that month and a half that I wanted to throw my hands up and “give up.” It was one frustration after another.

The thing is, each time Tina and I talked about the problems that were happening to the Jeep…we realized none of it was that big of a deal.

We had the money available to pay for the repairs. The young man that rear ended me had insurance. And if he didn’t have insurance, we did.

I had a rental car the entire time my Jeep was in the shop, I never missed a day of work and my car was finally repaired. Oh, and did I mention I was not physically hurt?

Sometimes things can seem overwhelming and out of control…but I believe if you look at the reality of any situation and sort out whether the things happening truly effect our wellbeing I think it is easy to see how insignificant some things truly are.

I have several friends battling cancer right now. One of my friends had 5 bi-passes completed on his heart last week. Two of my co-workers lost their husbands during this past year.

Are my Jeep repairs inconvenient? Yes.

Are they a big deal? No.

I once had a priest tell me there is Grace in everything.

I actually believe that.

I believe no matter how awful life may seem…there is goodness all around.

Sometimes I think it is easy for human beings to lay down in the muck and just give up.

Maybe its comfortable to stay angry, or point the blame in someone else’s direction. Maybe it just takes less energy.

I have one client that is so angry at the world that he can see nothing but misery. It hurts me to know he actually chooses to remain in the darkness.

Not that its easy to change a lifetime of negative thinking…but it is possible. It requires a desire to look for the good instead of dwell on the negative.

I had a conversation today with a co-worker. She told me about a man that just got out of prison and with her help realized the most important thing he needed to do was to let go of the negative. He has managed to do this and his life is turning around for the better. As she told me this story she gave the credit to God. Though I believe in a God of forgiveness…I also believe God isn’t required for forgiveness.

We can forgive others, love others and let go of the negative thoughts we carry around simply by changing how we think and by refusing to accept the negative as inevitable.

I choose everyday to find the good, see the kindness in others and seek happiness

I hope each of you find a reason to smile today!

Sonya and I spent the day together. When we stopped for lunch we decided to share a piece of carrot cake…before we ate our sandwiches. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment.

Sonya

I was recently reading the blog My Life Lived Full. Joanne was sharing her love for rainbows. It reminded me of a story I’ve been meaning to share.

In August Tina and I married in Northern Ontario, we were thrilled to be surrounded by friends and family.

This part of Ontario is beautiful and absolutely pristine. The only draw back of the entire week was the continuous rain.

A hike in the rain

When we woke Thursday morning, the morning of the wedding, it continued to rain off and on. We decided to put up a tent to assure we could still have the wedding outdoors. Everyone in camp worked together to set it up.

Tent construction

Tent decorations

We had a wedding day breakfast at our cabin. Then, after breakfast me and two of our friends canoed to a different section of the lake to gather water lilies for the table decorations. It started to rain again and we got soaked….laughing the entire time.

If you can’t tell…I’m drenched….but I got the lilies!

As we returned to camp, canoe full of water lilles, we learned Coco (a friend’s poodle) had been lost and found. According to Sonya our dog Sugar (the lab) was the hero.

Coco

A short time before the wedding the rain let up and the sun came out. Tina and I went to our respective areas to wait until it was time for us to “walk down the aisle.”
As we both waited we heard a commotion around the tent. Apparently a rainbow appeared over the lake.

Rainbow over Chub Lake

As a lesbian couple the rainbow obviously seemed appropriate but we found so much more meaning to it.

The rainbow appeared to be a message from those people that couldn’t be with us.
From family members like my Dad and aunt who both loved this place more than any other. And Tina’s former partner that she lost to ovarian cancer. As though they all showed up to tell us they supported us, loved us and continued to look over us.

Surrounded by friends and family

The rainbow, the love we felt and the support of those with us and no longer with us made the day more special than we ever expected.

Tina and me