Once Again I'm Thankful

You know, at this time of year, when people get rushed and crushed and bumped around, it's really easy to start feeling harried and pushed and pressed. I've been swamped at work as people try to get everything done before the holidays, and, unfortunately, it's made me cranky.

Until now.

Had a sanity check that reminded me just what I have to be grateful for.

Trying to take care of all the extra stuff, shopping, decorating, errands, mailing, can be a real pain when you're working long hours. Running around and buying this or that can be a pain, what with the other crazy harried shoppers trying to get stuff done around their own long hours, insane parking lots and checkout lanes extended halfway down the store.

But, you know what? I'm going to have time off for the holidays, with pay. And, whereas I only have to deal with a handful of shopping experiences (I love ordering on-line), many people in retail are dealing with crazy, harassed people all day long and they'll be working some very long hours up to and including the holidays.

So, I'm thankful to all those hard-working people who have unfailingly kept their patience with customers like myself and my ilk, who work those long hours so I can get what I need at times that suit me and my schedules, who make shopping much more pleasant than it might be.

And I'm grateful I don't have to work that hard any more.

And I'm grateful that I have a job in an environment where many are having some hard Christmases with too little money to try to make their families happy, where they might have to face enforced and unpaid furloughs, be facing pay cuts or even be struggling without a job.

I forget sometimes, just how lucky I am. And, if I made the most of my opportunities, I've had them to take advantage of. Not everyone does. I have a lot to be grateful for and it's important I remember that.

Here's to a world where everyone gets the opportunities I have had. My Christmas wish is that everyone has things a little bit easier, a little happier, a little bit brighter than they predicted. And that those of us who have it a little better than we sometimes think we do remember how fortunate we are and not forget those who haven't been quite as fortunate.