Bandwagon Jumpin

My husband was getting ready to leave for work this morning and couldn't find his employee badge that allows him into certain areas of work. Essentially he needs it to get through the day! So after listening to him search for a few minutes in vain, I get out of bed and start helping him look. After a few minutes, he found it. Needless to say I couldn't go back to sleep right away after he left, but I didn't feel like starting my day either. So I got back in bed and started cuddling with my dog and did some facebooking. What most people do when they have time to kill.

I noticed yesterday some people posting about 30 days of Thankful. Then again this morning. And I was thinking what the heck? They were all really nice posts about what or who people are thankful for. I just had never heard that there was a "movement." When it comes to these types of things I'm usually a day late and a dollar short. But in spite of that, I eventually figured out that this November instead of just being Thankful 1 day, Thanksgiving, why not be thankful all month long?!

So I did it, I made the bandwagon jump to do what so many others are doing and make one post per day about what I'm thankful for. As most of you have figured out I'm not a big bandwagon jumper-oner. It's not me. I don't wear trendy clothes,  I'm not hip to all the cool kid websites, and I don't take my kid to story time every week. (It could either stem from the fact that I'm the LEAST perfect person on the planet OR the fact that some things just don't suit me. Or the fact that we spontaneously were at the library today when story time was going down and decided to join and my spunky monkey couldn't stay still on mommies lap OR keep from laughing extremely loud so everyone looked at us every time we were supposed to clap.) But this is different. This is something me of all people can wholeheartedly get behind. And in fact I think EVERYONE should get behind.

Sometimes you will see hashtags (#) when people make funny remarks about the related post #i'mhisterical. A lot of them are people complaining about first world problems. It's good that we recognize we are being ridiculous, but we also need to stop. I just got done reading a book, in literally record time for me, called Burned Alive by Souad. ( http://www.amazon.com/Burned-Alive-Survivor-Killing-Speaks/dp/0446694878/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351880150&sr=8-1&keywords=Burned+Alive ) It is a book about a woman who survived being set on fire. An attempt by her family to kill her because she dishonored her family. She comes from a world where women are literally treated as less than animals. She grew up with her father telling her that the animals are worth more and far more valuable than she is. She was beaten black and blue daily by her father and eventually her brother. A world where men are the only one's with power and a woman is to only be a servant to the men. She is required by law to be a virgin at marriage, which usually happens by age 14, and if she does ANYTHING outside of keeping her head down, working like a slave, tolerating beatings then she will be killed. Honestly, to fully grasp what she went through you must read the book. But that gives you an idea of what I just read over the last week.

How often have we taken for granted the lifestyles we lead? How often do we not recognize the simple freedom of going outside whenever we want? Or reading a book? Or wearing anything other than the same 2 articles of clothing? These are all things Souad experienced, that I never have. And I can't believe how ungrateful I am.

So when my mind finally caught on, I was like oh heck yeah! I put two in the same day to catch up, but yesterday I was thankful that my house leaked during all the rain but never flooded and we never lost power! Which around here is a big deal from all the rain and wind given to us by Hurricane Sandy. Today I am thankful that my husband works so hard for our family. I didn't put this in the post, but he really does work and slave so that we can live in a house, pay our bills, get out of debt. Sometimes I'm not nearly as thankful for him as I should be.

So in light of the 30 days of Thankful. I vow to be thankful everyday. Not just in November but all year round. For the things that I have, the people I love, and the life I have been blessed to live.

I encourage you to do the same thing. It's not too late. It's never too late to be Thankful.

What are you Thankful for?????

Grace and Blessings.
Christie