[MacGyverOnline]

Thanksgiving is very much an American celebration, but I think with the stresses of todays world, the need to stop and take note of the positives in your life is very much a world-wide need.

With that in mind and remembering that MacGyver was a US citizen, it seems appropriate that we should use America's Thanksgiving as a time to just pause for a moment and think about some positives in our lives.

I'm always reminded on Thanksgiving of a self-help technique I once heard for depression, where each day you write down in a notebook 5 things your thankful of, and reasons why. Over time you find yourself spending your days looking for positive things to write in your notebook each day, and thus changes your outlook from negative, to positive.

So working on that idea... take a moment to stop and think of 5 things your thankful for.. then take an extra moment to really appreciate those things you have, and that by having those things you are more fortunate than others.

No matter where in the world you are... Give thanks for what you have, and have a great Thanksgiving.

[MacGyverOnline]

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the million who will not survive
this week.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back,
a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than
75% of this world.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the
loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the
pains of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people
in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three
billion people in the world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare
change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of
the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married, you are
very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and
are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority
can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch
them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can
offer a healing touch.

If you can read this message you are more blessed than over two billion
people in the world who cannot read at all.

[Liz1976]

That is absolutely true! We need to be thankful for what we have, because there are so many who go without a good health, roof, food, clothing, the ability to go to church without being harrassed, the ability to read, and money in the bank,

Personally, in addition to things mentioned in Rocky's list, I am greatful to God for my husband who I love more today than the day I married him, my two beautiful and amazing kids, the rest of my family who are completely crazy, my church family and good, true friends, who have stuck by us through thick and thin. It is never a small thing being someone else's friend.

On that personal, I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

[Kyrian]

I am grateful for freedom from opression, free to go anywhere I want and free to openly attend church to worship my Lord and Savior without fear of persecution by terrorists and invading armies. And I am especialy grateful to the men and women in our armed forces who give up their home and family and even their very lives, to do their duty that keep us all free.

I am grateful that I have a safe and warm house and food in the freezer and pantry. I am grateful for all the little things, like hot showers, clean soft clothes, a hot cup of tea and being able to sit here and look out my window on a peaceful country scene rather than a city. And that makes me grateful for the sound of wind, birds, crickets and thunderstorms. Falling leaves, snow and springtime... and all life in general.
(Sorry city folk, I love peace, quiet and nature... )

I am grateful for my cousins (who live with me now that my parents are gone) And even mostly grateful for those relatives that I consider "Certifible"
[and you thought I was crazy! ]

I am grateful for my cats, more than pets to me, they are my "children". And for all of God's creatures that make this world a more beautiful place.

And last, but certainly not least, I am grateful for all of you here at MOL. You all are great and your stories and silliness just make my day! Love to all and hope that everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!!