Thankful

            It’s been a while. Thanksgiving was busy. But all of life is busy. I feel like Thanksgiving has lost some of its meaning. And I’m not just talking about the commercialism. I spent no time on that day really reflecting on what I am thankful for. As family arrived, I was glad to see them. It was about family and it was about food. I wish I had had some time alone to just sit and be happy for what I have.

            Recently I have become more aware of the fact that people rarely relax anymore. Yeah, we get lots of lazy time watching TV or reading books—that that those times are necessarily bad or unproductive. It’s just, when was the last time you just sat and talked to someone? Not planning to do something while eating, talking on the phone, or watching a movie with them, but letting them have your undivided attention face to face. I know I almost always have objectives when I talk to people. I want to learn more about them, I want to make plans, I want to talk about certain things. Again, those aren’t always bad but why do I feel like I need them? My Thanksgiving weekend was filled with eating, board games, and playing games on tablets and phones. It was done together, but how together were we really?

            We are a multitasking world nowadays. If we don’t know a little bit about everything we are considered “not well rounded”. There are often TVs in our gyms, kitchens, and bedrooms. If our phones can’t do almost everything they are nicknamed “dumb phones”. And with “smart phones” it is near impossible for us to leave behind the world that is not right in front of us. We have mastered being in two places at once. What are we missing by doing so?

            And I am no better than anyone else. I don’t have a smart phone, but part of me does want one. I told people “Happy Thanksgiving!” but forgot to be thankful. I went shopping on Black Friday and wanted more than I have (wanted things I may or may not need). I was distracted by cleaning and pleasing people instead of being with them. To the point where showering felt more like a break and quiet time than getting ready and cleaning up time.

            We go on retreats and vacations to get away from things or to visit people. Why can’t we live every day like that? Why don’t we live everyday seeing all the good that is in front of us? I want to smile at every person I see. I want to stop feeling lonely and left out and join the people I love and spend time with them. I want to start living and stop wondering where the time has gone.

            We’re all told “before you know it” or “it feels like just yesterday”. Well, I’m going to start living today, the right now. I’m going to stop living for today and start living for eternal life. The only things I can take with me when I die are the people who lives and eternal lives I have changed. That’s what I want my treasure to be. I want to live for love.