As we reach the latter half of this blessed Holiday season, please don't forget to give thanks for what you have instead of succumbing to the twin pressures of avarice and consumerism and transforming Christmas into a quest for ammassing material wealth. Christmas is about the birth of a boy who gave his life to save humanity, and for that we should reciprocate that kind deed by doing kind deeds for others around us. No matter who bad you may think you have it, there's always someone out there who has it much worse.
I say this now as I reflect upon how foolish I was over the past two years or so for feeling depressed, lonesome, underappreciated, and underrespected when all along I'm probably one of the "richest" people I know.
I have a reliable car---While I once begrudged my other peers here in the Pittston 'burbs whose parents were affluent enough to purchase a brand new "toy" for them on their 16th birthdays, I'm instead grateful that I had a steady income that provided me with the means to purchase my own car without burdening my parents as they near retirement. It's not stylish by any means and is the brunt of a lot of jokes from others who are more well-off, but to me, it gets me from Point A to Point B without any complications, for which I am thankful.
I have a loving family---While they don't respect nor accept who I am as a gay person due to their Conservative values, I know that deep down inside they truly do love, care about, and appreciate me otherwise. Unfortunately, it often takes some sort of crisis to bring families together and truly make them appreciate the special bonds they share. The past few years have shown me this in a few ways, from the day when my mom passed out and was rushed to the emergency room to be treated for a kidney problem to the gradual healing that has occurred after my "coming out" and the resulting fallout that lead me to the side of the Freedom Bridge.
I have a roof over my head---Sure, it may not be as grandiose or opulent as some of the mini-mansions sprouting up left and right in Glenmaura, Quail Hill, Willow View, Highland Hills, etc., but not only do I have shelter, but this shelter has central air-conditioning, an above-ground pool, paved parking for five vehicles, and a beautiful wooded backdrop in a middle-class suburb while still only being one-minute from I-81. I'm thankful right now that my parents can afford to have Mecadon come and put oil in our furnace to keep our home warm on these wintry days, and I'm also thankful that we just renovated our kitchen into my mom's ultimate dream.
I have perfect health---I don't yet quite have my six-pack abs for guys to swoon over, but I still can run several miles up and down hills without running out of breath with the calves and lung capacity to prove it. I don't have pecs of a God, but I also have among the lowest body-fat percentages of anyone I know. Considering I come from a family replete with cancer, diabetes, and vision problems, I'm blessed to have 20/20 vision and a high enough metabolism rate to eat whatever I want whenever I want. Bring on that orgasmic cheesecake!
Most importantly, I've recently been re-connecting with a special friend who I've missed dearly for a very long time. This person, just like an angel from God, walked back into my life a few weeks ago at work with a host of personal problems, and, being in one of the best emotional, mental, and financial states in all of my life, I'm more than ready to let him back into my life again to try to help assuage his pain. This is the person who taught me how to LIVE---he took this scrawny, middle-class white kid from the suburbs and turned him into a wild child! ;o) For that alone I'm eternally grateful. For him, I think he's grateful to know that at least someone cares about him in his time of need. While nothing romantically is occuring between us as of right now (or possibly ever as I don't think he's reciprocating any feelings of romance), I still feel like we're picking up exactly where we left off---only ten times better! I'm in a position now where I won't let my family's disapproval of my sexual orientation interfere with my heart ever again; if this person has it in his heart to let me back in again after being hurt so many times by others in the past two years, I'd love to truly make him feel happy in life again.
In any event, Happy Holidays, and PLEASE remember to give thanks for the blessings that have been so graciously bestowed upon you in your lives! ;o) God bless you and yours! Christmas is a time to be grateful, not spiteful. If a quirky curmudgeon such as yours truly could have his downtrodden soul revived, then
anyone can! Wake up thinking that you want to make everyday "Good til the last drop!"
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Be Thankful This Holiday Season
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