Giving Thanks

By phoebe marie -
Thanksgiving morning, my friend Jen posted on facebook that she thinks people should be thankful for all they have every day and not just one day out of the year.  Little lady, I could not agree more.

This Thanksgiving was strange to say the least.  I mean, can you really be thankful when the biggest thing you got this year was cancer?  Well honestly - the answer to that is HELL YES!

And don't get me wrong.  I am never going to be one of those "cancer as a gift" people.  F*ck that.  This is NOT a gift.  I would NOT buy it for you for your birthday and wrap it up in pretty paper with hand curled ribbons.  It's shitty and it sucks.  But I AM someone who truly believes that the slap of reality this disease has given me HAS been an incredibly positive thing.

I am SO loved.  I am SO supported.  I am SO strong.  I am SO brave.  I am SO inspired.  I am SO grateful.  I am SO humbled.  I am SO amazed.  And I am all of these things every day of the year.  Not just on Thanksgiving.  And not just because I have cancer.

The family and friends who have been here for me through this - be it through help, hugs, gifts, cards, thoughts, soups, emails, blog comments, facebook messages... they were all there before I had cancer and they will all still be there when it's gone.  The strength I have to get me through this I've had all along and if nothing else, I will probably be stronger when it's all over.  The love I feel for every person who touches my life has always been there and will continue to be there.  I will always be someone who smiles at strangers on the sidewalk and sandwich builders at Subway and checkout girls at Target.  And now more than ever, I will be aware of these things every day of my life.

Because I AM grateful every day for all that I have.  For my strong, supportive, incredible family.  For my beautiful, talented, wonderful friends.  For my gorgeous, brilliant, loving husband.  For my idiot dogs (who just ate my Sunset Memorial Park letter AND a box of Imodium...ugh!).  For my fantastic home.  For my understanding and interesting job.  For my ability to go to Target and buy a new bathrobe for no reason other than it was gray and on sale and really, really soft.  For my ability to make beautiful things.  For my ability to share what I am going through here and inspire those that I love and those I don't even know with the things that I share.

I'd go on and try to list ALL of the things, the people, the experiences I am grateful for, but really... what I've realized is that there is so much to be grateful for every single day.

My dad's former AA sponsor used to ask him every day what he was grateful for that day.  And over the past 10 years, he's asked me the same question many times.  And I never really thought about it before.  But I'm pretty sure that not a day of my life to come will go by without me thinking about it now.

So, what are YOU grateful for today?

Xxo, Phoebe

Comments

jim nelson said…
GRATEFUL FOR YOU! LOVE LOVE LOVE...dad
November 25, 2011 at 9:10 PM
Sharky Marie P.G. said…
I'm grateful for you, but that really goes without saying. I'm most grateful for Spencer because he has made me realize how strong I really can be. He is such tuff stuff. And I'm grateful for the nurses at the Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Clinic at the Seidman Cancer Center. They made a horribly painful situation much easier. I am so glad they all chose to work there. I can't image how tuff it is considering some of their patients are wee and don't make it. They're amazing people. And so are you. And Spencer.
November 28, 2011 at 8:49 AM
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