Thanksgiving

[George Jung]

Thanksgiving
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanksgiving Day
Observed by Canada, United States
Type National
Date Second Monday in October (Canada)
Fourth Thursday in November (U.S.)
 
2008 date October 13, 2008 (Canada)
November 27, 2008 (U.S.)
 
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks at the conclusion of the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.

United States
Main article: Thanksgiving (United States)

Traditional celebration
In the United States, Thanksgiving is a four day weekend which usually marks a pause in school and college calendars. Many workers (78% in 2007) are given both Thanksgiving and the day after as paid holidays.[1]

Thanksgiving meals are traditionally family events where certain kinds of food are served. First and foremost, turkey is the featured item in most Thanksgiving feasts (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes facetiously referred to as "Turkey Day"). Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner. Often guests bring food items or help with cooking in the kitchen as part of a happy, communal meal.

In keeping with the holiday theme of giving thanks, during the socializing or meal, people talk about what they are thankful for or tell about experiences during the past year which have caused them to feel grateful.


While there are things in my life that I would like to be different, mainly my health, there is so very much to be grateful for.  Most important to me is recognizing the basic goodness of waking every morning, getting myself out of bed and living the day on my own, with my own free will, and understanding what is truly important.  I am grateful for being capable of going to work and although I may not earn much  money, the value of having a purpose makes me feel like I am worth more than any bank account.  I am grateful to be able to shop for my own groceries, prepare my own meals, keep clothes on my back and shelter over my head.  I think most importantly I am grateful for all of the love I have experienced in my life.  There is no feeling quite like the feeling of love.  To know and comprehend this feeling alone is one of the most special abilities of the human race, along with all emotions, but especially the feeling of love.  With that feeling of love, I am also grateful for everyone who has ever been in my life, classmates, co-workers, and enemies alike, if not for them I would not be the person I am today, which I am so proud to be.  Of course we can't learn without great teachers and mentors so I must also express my gratitude for having a parent who gave all they had to give so selflessly, teaching me the fundamentals of life, along with other family members and close friends, for whom without I would have no reason for being.

What are you grateful for this thanksgiving?

[angela515]

I am grateful for being capable of going to work and although I may not earn much  money, the value of having a purpose makes me feel like I am worth more than any bank account.

I totally agree with this one. I still haven't been able to go back to work yet, so I have not worked since Jan 24th, 2004. I am so anxious to head back to work, and to me.. I will feel the way I felt before about working... I will be so grateful to be able to work and knowing I am providing for my kids by working. It's such a different feeling then just getting SSDI checks. (Although, I am very grateful for what I get from those right now.)

As for what I am thankful for.... I am thankful to have my children with me. As many of you know I was going through an ugly child custody case through most of 2006-2007. I am thankful for my transplant and thankful for the boy who gave his life for me to have a chance at trying to live as normally as possible with my children. I am thankful I have my parents to help me out financially. I am thankful for meeting everyone on IHD and having you all here as a shoulder to lean on when I need it.

I am thankful for so many more things... but that's the short list.

[Jill D.]

My sister, and the fact that she kept her kidneys healthy for many years because she "knew" that someday I would need one; for my new kidney; for Mayo Clinic and the wonderful research that they are constantly doing to allow me to have the transplant; my family; my girlfriends; my job; my church; having many positive and loving people in my life; the friends I have made (and met!) on IHD.

[goofynina]

I am grateful for being alive most of all, and of course i am very grateful for my family and my friends, i am grateful for being such a part of a wonderful website and i am verrrry  grateful i got to meet Epoman and give him a hug  , i am grateful i got to meet Sluff and the other members and give them all hugs too  , i am grateful for the birds, flowers, trees, clouds, rainbows, you name it, i am grateful for it, 

[Sluff]

I'm pretty much thankful for everything in my life.

[kitkatz]

I am grateful for:
1, My kids
2. My husband
3. My life
4. IHD.com

[Bajanne]

I am so grateful for:
Life
Life in Christ
My family
My IHD family
My other loved ones
My sanity (how dare you challenge this!)
My health (yes, even on dialysis)
and
LIFE!

[skyedogrocks]

Great thread George!

I am soooo grateful for everything in my life.  Especially my husband, he is the best thing that has ever happened to me!  This year I am so grateful for our son coming into our lives.  He adds so much love and sparkle to our family, he is just the best kid ever, we are so in love with him.

I am grateful for dialysis so that it keeps Rob alive and grateful for all my friends and family. 

[KR Cincy]

Honestly, I'm kind of struggling with this. This year has been so life altering. Yes, I'm glad I'm still around and I'm grateful that I can, so far, call myself a cancer survivor. Of course, now I can also call myself a dialysis patient. So many other emotions are running as high or higher than gratitude...anger, resentment, fear, sadness, and the newly dubbed forever-ness. Getting around those to get to grateful is, I'm discovering, a tricky proposition.

This was the time of year last year when my world started to change so dramatically. Getting through these upcoming anniversaries will not be easy, as it immediately causes me to reflect on what my life was like before. Before diet and fluid restrictions, before daily steroid medications, before major surgeries and before I even knew what fistula, canulation, nephrectomy, NxStage, DaVita, or Renagel even meant.

I know I need to focus on the positives...my super-woman wife, my brilliant kid, my parents and in-laws who have done so much for us, all our family and friends who provided love and support. I am grateful for all that...but that feels sort of secondary to everything else, and I hate that it is that way.

Man oh man, I wish I could still drink...I need a beer...or twelve.

[kellyt]

2007 really kicked my ass.  I'm thankful that it's almost over!     I am extremely thankful for my husband.  It's because of him alone that I don't have to work.  I am thankful for his strength and motivation in keeping us housed, clothed, and fed.  I'm thankful for the money we have in the bank.  I'm thankful for the friends I've made throughout my life, although they are sometimes hard to find these days.  I'm thankful for my pets.  I'm thankful for my brothers and their families.  I'm thankful that I have good health insurance.

My health and my body, on the other hand, have failed me.  But I am still thankful that I can function independently.  That's very important!
I'm thankful you made me recognize that, George!     

[George Jung]

Honestly, I'm kind of struggling with this. This year has been so life altering.

It is 100% natural to go through the emotions after any traumatic experience.  Time and a will to make the most out of the situation (a situation that is for the most part is out of my control) are the main components to my personal well being.  I could, and had for quite some time, easily maintained a negative perspective on my life.  It is difficult to sort through what is truly important and what we have been taught to think is important.  If I compare myself to most 30 something young males I could easily become dissappointed, I am not advancing in my carear, I am not planning a wedding or a family, I am not partying with friends, etc, etc.  However I do have everything I need and a little extra that some of my peers may not have.  I have food, clothing, shelter, an education, and all basic necessities of life.  I have my emotions, and physical abilities to express my emotions.  I have the recognition of what life means to me, and the feeling of satisfaction.  Many people I know or know of have a disability, they are seemingly unable to be satisfied, always wanting more and expecting more.  More money, more possessions, bigger this and faster that, and they lack feeling satisfied.  I know of people who will go shopping not because they need anything other than to feel good.  How long does that last?  Until the next shopping trip right?  Not that I don't enjoy a new pair of shoes or p.j.'s or a dvd, but I am certainly learning how insignificant those things really are and just how important it is to walk outside and take a deep breath of cool November air and see the colorful leaves about to fall from the trees.  I am realizing the basics in life, nature and just being, are truly, truly, beautiful things. 

Try not to be consumed with thoughts/worries.  A noisy mind makes it difficult to relax and feel good.

[Sluff]

Great advice George. 

[George Jung]

More than anything I just felt like sharing my thoughts.  I for one, find it easier to relate to someone and learn when they are not telling me what I should do.  I have alway been the kid who does the opposite of what they are told to do, which, by the way,  doesn't always go in my favor.

[Romona]

I am thankful for family and friends. I have a job, health insurance, and a roof over my head. We aren't hungry. I have freedom to complain about whatever I wish, thanks to soldiers and veterans. More money would be nice, but others have far less. I am thankful to all the people that have taken care of me while I was ill and the ones helping to keep me healthy. Most of all I have a special place in my heart for a small child that gave me the gift of health. I can never say "thank you" enough to his family for making the decision that they made during their time of grief. 

[KR Cincy]

A noisy mind makes it difficult to relax and feel good.
 

That's me...my mind will not shut down with thoughts of the past year, the future, quality of live vs. just living, etc. But I'll keep working on it and George, I'm very grateful for your thoughts.

[Joe Paul]

I am thankful to be here & enjoy another Thanksgiving. BTW - Happy Thanksgiving to everyone 

[thegrammalady]

gobble, gobble

[willieandwinnie]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING IHD. 

willieandwinnie

[2_DallasCowboys]

Happy Thanksgiving, to all the
wonderful, brave and caring people
on IHD.COM!!!!!!!


Anne and  Les

[oswald]

i'm thankful for everything in my life.  i'm thankful for my wife for putting up with me, i'm thankful for (beleive it or not) kidney disease.  before i got sick, i didn't empathise for people who were sick.  now that i'm sick i can.  i now know how strong i can be.  i also would not have joined this wonderful website and to talk with anyone here.  i know god gave me this disease so now i know i can deal with anything and everything else in my life.  i'm also thankful for the family of the soldier who gave his life just so i can get a kidney.  i'm thankful for so much more i can't write it all down.  thankyou IHD and the people here for just being here.   

[karen547]

I am thankful for lots of things. I am thankful for having my family, having a GREAT fistula, my pets, my sister, that her husband came home safe from overseas, IHD.COM family, Having a brand new bedroom set, my mom being cancer free for the 2nd time and so much more!!

Eat LOTS of FOOD

love you guys!!