If you're like me and spend any amount of time on facebook, you've seen friends and/or family post a comment like this: "Since it's the month of Thanksgiving, I will post something for which I am thankful every day in November." Okay. Great. Nice thought, to be sure. And it got me thinking....

I've been way to negative in recent months. Who am I kidding? Years! While I enjoyed a couple of the people I worked with for the past 5 years, I hated my job. Yes, I know. Hate is a strong word. I h-a-t-e-d my job. The result...a lot of whining and complaining on my part with little gratitude on the side.

Last spring I was hired at a brand new school where everything started out shiny and new. I worked like a dog all summer (unusual for teachers) preparing for the school year, then with a flourish the school year began and our doors opened. In the ensuing months I have come to learn that the administration here is exactly as it was described to me prior to my accepting this job. My principal is a ball-buster and a micro-manager. (My prayer at this moment is that she doesn't peruse this website...she's not 50 yet!) She made me absolute promises on which I based my decision, at least in part, to accept the position. She has broken those promises, and when I spoke with one of her underlings (who was present when one of said promises was made) about my frustration, he concurred that she said it, but basically the attitude now is, "Oh well...who cares...we have bigger issues to deal with." Interestingly enough, I was being considered for 2 jobs simultaneously but chose this one. I have wondered if I would have chosen differently had I known how this would turn out. I'm not happy here, to say the least. Oh yeah...back to being thankful.

So I was thinking about how negative I'd let myself become recently and I thought, "No one wants to hear me whine. No one really, truly cares, unless it affects them. I'm stuck for the moment until I can find something else, so...what can I be thankful for?" I determined that I would do my best to focus on the good.

I am married to my best friend. I have 6 terrific kids who are all healthy, law-abiding, hard-working, gainfully employed adults who still like hanging out with us now and then, especially on holidays and birthdays. I have a gorgeous grandson who lights up our lives. We live in a comfortable home in a decent neighborhood. We are both working and pursuing other passions in the hope that we can change our professions. My parents are healthy and living close by...within just over a mile. I don't go see them as often as they or I would like, but I get to see them far more often than if we lived far apart. And Mom & I can occasionally get pedicures together! We have money in savings, though not nearly enough for retirement. We're working on it. We always have food to eat and dependable cars to drive.

Life is far more GOOD than it is bad. And I want to remind myself often just how blessed I am. The rest...the crap that bugs me...that will all get figured out one of these days. Today, I've decided to be thankful!

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