It would be easy to detail the unpleasant hardships, endless worries, unwanted challenges, scary thoughts, and human suffering this year heaped upon us. The list gets long, fast. While I acknowledge the negatives, I choose instead to place my focus and my energy on the positives. I concentrate on getting myself and my loved ones through the winter and plan how best to help those who are struggling as we wait, hopeful for better times.

That is what I am most thankful for — hope. I hope we can close this book and look toward a brighter tomorrow. A glimmer of hope provided the fuel needed to survive anything. It pushes out of bed and urges me to put one foot in front of another. I hold tight to past Thanksgivings and an uninterrupted tradition of creating fond memories, retelling family stories, and sharing our lives. Next Thanksgiving, I intend to forgo a time-honored holiday ritual. We won’t go around the table and ask everyone what they are thankful for. When we sit at that future feast, there won’t be a reason. We will already know.

What are you thankful for?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer