Last night at dinner, my dad’s cousin (who we all adore, but only get to see once a year, at Thanksgiving) asked us all to say one thing we’re thankful for.
Have you ever tried to do that? Come up with just one thing that you’re thankful for? It was really hard for me to do. I have so much to be thankful for, I didn’t know where to begin.
So I said, “I’m thankful that I’m able to be here with everyone tonight.”
In my mind, that encapsulated many things: I’m thankful that l live in a place that’s safe and comfortable. I’m thankful that I can afford to drive my car 100 miles to my great uncle’s house for dinner. I’m thankful that I love my family, and they love me, so I actually wanted to make the drive. I’m thankful that I’m having success in my creative work, from acting on stage to voice acting in games and on TV, to writing all the things I’m writing. I’m thankful for my wife and stepchildren, and my dogs and my cats, and my friends, and my blog and . . . .
See what I mean?
My cousin Dustin, who has overcome one of the biggest obstacles anyone could ever face, and has a lot to be thankful for himself, had simple but powerful insight. He said, “I’m thankful for my family. Because friends will come and go, but your family is there forever, no matter what.”
I know it’s not like that in all families, but it sure is in ours, and for that, well, I’m thankful.
I hope everyone gets to spend at least a little time this weekend with someone they love.
50 thoughts on “on being thankful”
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Happy Day After! Wil. I am at my sisters house in Macphearson Kansas right now. My brother is here and I was able to see my Parents, and my brother and sister-in-law last night. We ate and talked, its good to be home again.
And for that, I am thankful.
Jeremy
Hey Wil, I came home from college this week and your message really hits the spot. It is great to be back around the people I love and to see the girl I love for the first time in months. I think part of growing up is realizing the importance of bonds between people—something you’ve always been good at capturing in print. Happy Thanksgiving!
-Matt
true dat
Hey Wil,
this post meant alot to me. because im disabled and i can no longer make passionate love to my life. i was thankful for those days. but yesterday, somehow, my penis was made erect and i could bone her after waiting 7 long but faithful years. thank you for your inspiration wil.
Although we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in Ireland (it’s all rolled into one Big Happy Christmas!), I’m thankful that I found your blog dude, it’s cool to read the experiences of someone who seems to have such a positive outlook on life.
Sl
Good post, Wil.
This was the second T-day since I got married, but as I was wroking last year, it was the first we spent together.
Rather special.
BTW, do you realize how are it is to find a turkey on Turkey? Damn near impossible.
Joe
Incirlik AB, Turkey
Wil,
You say it all so well. It is difficult to pick just one thing but I have to agree with being thankful for my family. I’m so lucky to have them even if it took me years to fully understand that. I have the best husband anyone could ever ask for, 4 great kids and a mom that will do anything for me at the drop of a hat. Dad was a wonderful man though I know I didn’t fully appreciate him when he was here. I had a wonderful thanksgiving with my family and I’m glad you did also.
Lillie
Thank you for your post, I am thankful for Jesus, Family, the Potohs Glinda gave me and my two cats. God bless you and everyone you love and many more blessings to come.
Happy thanksgiving, Wil.
Aw hun, I am not a great believer in blood being thicker than water, but very much in love being thicker than blood. Lucky if you get to have love in combination with blood… I am thankful for every single drop that is still in my life π
Bless!
I was thinking about this yesterday too. It’s so easy during the rest of the year to get bogged down in why life isn’t perfect, it’s nice to have at least one day where all you do is revel in why it is.
Thanks for being somebody to be thankful for! π
Amen.
Now, pass the leftover stuffing…
Wil,
I am thankful for one more day of life that has gone reasonably well without too many problems. The lights came on when I flipped the switch, the water was hot in the bathtub, the heater is keeping the house warm, my truck started when I turned the key. I am thankful for all the little things we take for granted. My dog chewed up the broom–oh well, I can buy another broom.
Thank you for inspiring me to think about what I am thankful for.
Freeman π
P.S. Thank you for inspiring Bill–that must be a first.
Wil,
My family did the exact same thing…I was the same, I found it hard to just mention one thing. I basically said the same thing as you did “I’m thankful that I and everyone else could be here tonight.”
-bk
As a vegetarian I have long given up the turkey feast, which I never liked anyway, and what little family I have left is scattered across California. Still, I feel thankful for so much, and it’s nice that others like you see the day for what really matters. I spent the day with some lovely friends doing totally non-traditional things, and I’m grateful for every minute of it!
I consider my friends to be my family as well. So I’m thankful for my family (both the one I was born in and the one I create), too. And thank you, Wil. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s thankful for the little kicks of joy, glee and occasionally sadness that we get from reading your blog. Here’s to another year full of many things to be thankful for! (raises a Guinness in toast.)
Now, pass the mashed potatoes and gravy. π
Wil,
Being thankful for just one thing is completly insane for the resaons you named, and honestly, it’s unfair to ask of just one thing.
I’m glad that you were able to spend the last holiday with your family. I’m glad I was able to spend it with mine. I dont get to see them all of 3 times a year, so I look forward to the time I spend with them; As I’m sure you do with yours.
Take the day off Wil, You have a busy next few days ahead of you.
I’m thankful for my friends…’cause unlike my family, they may not always be there…but I’m glad they’re here this year. I’m still a sucker for semi-sappy stories like this. *hugs* I hope you had the best Thanksgiving!
Wil,
It seems weird to me that you still call the boys your stepchildren. I know they still have Father 1.0 in their lives and they may or may not ever call you dad. All issues of possession (my child, my wife, etc.) in titles aside, I think it would be fair to call them your boys at least. I don’t recall if you’ve adopted them legally (or if that would even matter in the great state of California). But I do know that when they grow into the fine adults they will become, they will look back on the influence you had in shaping their attributes and values and will most definitely mark you as being in the dad column.
I had a Crap child hood and found an inspiration in you in Stand By Me – You are no Geek…. You’re a cool dude.. Thanks (Form Rick London PS I agree with you on Irac shame UK messed up to!!) hugs
Happy Thanksgiving, Wil!
I’m thankful for life; what it has offered and what it will offer in the future.
Have a great weekend. =D
Hey Will,
I suspect your uncle asked for one thing from each of you because if it is anything like my family, when the last person was finished naming all that they were thankful for, it would take all year. Then each one could start over. Hey, what a thought. I remember when you used to post 7 things that you were thankful for on occasion thoroughout the year. Thanksgiving is a great holiday, but it is awesome when we can continue to celebrate it all year. The big turkey dinner once a year is good though. OK, three or four times a year π And you have to have pumpkin pie at least once a month. So, here are 7 things I am thankful for:
1. Pumpkin pie at least once a month.
2. The way my three beautiful children run to the car and greet me every night when I come home from work.
3. Turkey dinner three or four times a year.
4. The way my beautiful wife greets me (after the children) every night when I come home from work.
5. The red cliff mountains that surround my little rural home town.
6. Pumpkin pie more than once a month.
7. Last but not least, WWDN. Keep up the great work of encouraging us all.
PS: ok, one more: Leftovers after the three or four turkey dinners per year.
OMG that’s perfect, really, because that’s so much the same thing I was thinking at Thanksgiving myself. I had to work that afternoon/evening from 2.30-11 so I was grateful I got to be there at all; plus also, I live in Pensacola, where Hurricane Ivan tore up the place, so I was really REALLY grateful that I was alive, safe and healthy to be able to be there, that my insurance company paid to replace my car so I could get there, that the house we were gathering in was undamaged… and on and on. so I totally get that.
It’s hard to just be grateful for one thing… I have to choose to be grateful for everything.
BTW my friend linked me up to your site. Hope you don’t mind me cropping up out of the blue like this. ^_^
aawwww… thats so nice. it makes me wish that we had thanksgiving in my country. just reading it gives me warm fuzzies inside
I have no complaints. I am thankful for my husband, the five children he has given me and my mother-in-law. Short story: My husband was an overweight teenager, long hair, zits and glasses. He’s not someone I would have taken a second look at. He had never had a girl friend. To get into the military 21 years ago he had to drop over one hundred pounds. He did it in about six months. He went into the military and became a medic where he met me. I was his trainer in labor and delivery. He was 19, tall and he was cute. I was married to a man 8 years older than i was and he was not nice. The day my divorce became final my husband Ken asked me out on our first date. It started well, I had new jeans, new boots and a new shirt on for the Alabama Concert. We took our seats. A man behind Ken bumped him and his beer he was holding landed on the front of me. Ken was horrified. I thought it was funny, smelly but funny. The night went well, a little damped but well. Ken asked me out on a second date and I said yes. Unfortunately I forgot this date. It had been a busy week of seven nights in a row. He thought I had forgot the date on purpose because of the beer incident. I apologized and asked him out and we have been together ever since.
Even though some of your readers are up here in Canada and have said our thanks a couple of weeks ago. I’d just like to say I’m thankful you’re writing is part of my life Wil. You are an inspiring person to read about and some of the obstacles you’ve faced and written about has taught me to be thankful for everything I’ve got.
I’m thankful I eat everyday, I’ve got shelter and a running vehicle, for three wonderful parrots who are healthy, for a job which pays the bills and for you Wil.
Enjoy your thanksgiving.
i am thankful that i have survived the mistakes i have made in life…and to have learned the lessons that those mistakes gave…i am also thankful i realize now i would be nothing without the pain of these lessons.
i dont often make comments but this one i had to say something.Everyday i am thankful to be alive.Everyday i am thankful my daughters are happy and healhly,with a roof over their heads and food to feed them.Everyday i am thankful to get the chance to make tomorrow a better day.
I washed up onto your blog beach while surfing. Great to find that you are enjoying life and still finding success. I wrote to you years ago, thanking you for your contribution to the ST legend. This was after your 4th season “bow-out” episode. I was surprised and pleased to have a reply from you – and remember we’re talking snail-mail days here! I’m also glad you’ve joined us author-types and got yourself published. Your two books are winging their way to me thanks to Amazon.co.uk. (An early Christmas present to me).
So,to quote your note, to the best of my memory, “Be excellent, Mon!”
I’m watching The Weakest Link on Game Show Network. Your appearance. You’re doing well. WFS just got voted off and you are prevailing.
woot.
I’m glad you had such a wonderul time, Wil!
I don’t like to keep inflicting political overtones but I’ve found family so much MORE important over the past four years as the situation in this country and around the world has deteriorated. No matter how bad things have/will get you can always depend on your family.
Everybody cherish what they have and hug your kids today if you have them!
Happy Holidays!
I’m glad you had such a wonderul time, Wil!
I don’t like to keep inflicting political overtones but I’ve found family so much MORE important over the past four years as the situation in this country and around the world has deteriorated. No matter how bad things have/will get you can always depend on your family.
Everybody cherish what they have and hug your kids today if you have them!
Happy Holidays!
Hi Will,
We flew down from the SF bay area to see you at the ACME show tonight for our yearly vacation…sorry to hear about your injury. The skits were funny without you. Hopefully you are OK and we don’t get another disappointment when we go to see Mickey tomorrow at Disneyland.
-Randall
Thanks for keeping things real as usual, Wil.
Aside from a turkey fryer malfunction that forced us to carve the half-cooked bird and finish cooking it in the microwave, and a gravy that wouldn’t stop expanding, all went well. I’m thankful that I have friends and co workers that are as close as family, who are there when real family cannot be.
Have a great weekend with your family. π
-Ariel
Hey Wil.
First time here. I read the “first time here” page, and I’m in.
Looking forward to visiting again,
Kyle
Happy Thanksgiving Wil and Praise Bob!
http://www.nationalcynical.com/images/humor-political/bush3stooges.jpg
I’m glad you had such a wonderul time, Wil!
I don’t like to keep inflicting political overtones but I’ve found family so much MORE important over the past four years as the situation in this country and around the world has deteriorated. No matter how bad things have/will get you can always depend on your family.
Everybody cherish what they have and hug your kids today if you have them!
Happy Holidays!
I’m glad you had such a wonderul time, Wil!
I don’t like to keep inflicting political overtones but I’ve found family so much MORE important over the past four years as the situation in this country and around the world has deteriorated. No matter how bad things have/will get you can always depend on your family.
Everybody cherish what they have and hug your kids today if you have them!
Happy Holidays!
I’m glad you had such a wonderul time, Wil!
I don’t like to keep inflicting political overtones but I’ve found family so much MORE important over the past four years as the situation in this country and around the world has deteriorated. No matter how bad things have/will get you can always depend on your family.
Everybody cherish what they have and hug your kids today if you have them!
Happy Holidays!
As the late Jack Smith of the L.A. Times used to say in his senior years, “I am thankful for being around to see what tomorrow brings.”
To you and yours, and your extened family, (the WWDN readers, wishes for a Joyous Holiday Season and a Healthy, Peaceful, Prosperous 2005.
D’you think that whole boner/disabled thing way back is for real? Obviously it is then well done and happy Thanksgiving.
Wil- great entry; good perspective. Also, I wanted to tell you that your hilarious day-after-thanksgiving day post on slashdot literally had me wiping tears from my eyes.
Wil,
Looks like you had a nice thanksgiving. I did too but it sure seemed to come around fast this year. I hope the rest of your weekend went just as well.
FG
Oh happy day π
Had me a T-Day Poker Game at the local casino.
Very small town we only have one. Im thankful I went all in with the HAMMER π
Won 465$ that night in 4-8 hold em and was down to my last, got to put all in with 7 staying BLEH
Caught me a str π
I wouldnt have except that you always talk about the HAMMER
Thanks WIL
Hi Wil-
I’m glad you had a happy Thanksgiving with your family. π On actual Thanksgiving Day, it was just my hubby and I, and then we met his family at the movies (they always go to the movies on Thanksgiving) and saw the Polar Express. The following day- which I took off from work, and will now have to fight to get Christmas Eve off- we invited 4 of our friends over for a Friend Thanksgiving, and we all sat around the dining room table with the lights dimmed, the candles lit, using our fine crystal which we’ve used maybe once since our engagement party 7 years ago… We toasted to our friendship. Then we played a gross game called Zobmondo, then talked for about another 2 hours, 40 minutes of which was about farts. You’d think 6 30somethings would be more sophisticated, but oh, no… It was the funniest conversation I’ve ever had, though. Anyway, I’m thankful that I was able to spend 4 days in a row with my wonderful hubby; that I got to have a real dinner party with my friends; that our house is almost done being decorated for Christmas; that even though I didn’t get to see my family, we spoke on the phone and we love each other; that as a vegan, there are things such as Tofurkey available so that you can have a turkey-like food without the cruelty; that the Moody Blues exist- love them!; that you blog here, ‘cuz I really enjoy you; the list goes on and on…
Love, Alicia
[email protected]
http://www.thewagband.com
Dude!!
You’re in a Diesel Sweeties Comic π
Scoore!
http://www.dieselsweeties.com/archive.php?s=1105
i’m thankful to have a family of choice that supports me, and loves me unconditionally.
hope everyone had a safe, cozy holiday weekend.
i’d like to mention that sometimes friends surpass friendship and become family, there is nothing greater than family but its not all about blood, its all about love.
I too am thankful for my wonderful and large family.
Hey,
Wil is a crossword clue in today’s Yahoo Games crossword. 32-across, “Wheaton of ‘Stand By Me'”. Three letters, hmm….
Just catching up on my reading after a week out of town and I had to reply to this one.
This year Thanksgiving came a bit early for me. My husband and I were just married on the 20th and I had the good fortune of being able to afford to invite much of my extended family, all his family and our friends to join us in the celebration. Thanksgiving Day found us on our honeymoon and enjoying every minute of it. Everyone should have a Thanksgiving like that!