Give Thanks

From the moment I could blink I was told give thanks.  A member of a church going family, I was raised, to give thanks and praise.

Many families say grace at major meals and give thanks for their ability to have food on the table and most importantly, to be able to share it with family.

I have heard people thank divine intervention when they win at gambling, have a good poker hand, choose a fast horse at the track or have a lucky roll at the dice.

People give thanks and are reminded to do so constantly.  It is polite.  A good person, in theory, does it.  Why is it no one tells you growing up, give thanks to those around you.  Not for doing something specific or for going out of their way, but for the simple act of being around you.  People like your friends, your family, and your co-workers.

I see people thank their wives for cooking a special dinner; they thank their kids for good behavior, or for gifts.  No one thanks each other for cohabitation and let’s face it …… YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS PLEASANT TO BE AROUND.

I can write that with impunity, as no one is perfect.  When you spend countless hours with people, nerves fray.  The following items apply across the board, maybe not at all times, but on occasion;

-You smell from time to time.

-You wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

… and countless others.  Every single person is guilty of most “minor” faults consistently and yet when a “stranger” displays these qualities we take umbrage.  If you walk by someone and they bump into you and keep moving, they are rude.  If your brother does it, there was not enough space.  If you are having a bad day and cop an attitude to your wife, it normally will not be commented on.  If someone on the street is impolite they must be a jerk.

Are you starting to see the mosaic?

I hate to have spent half of this post beating up the general population, but on occasion I find people do not like negative items of note when they are directed at the mirror.  There was once an old saying about a pot who called the kettle black.  You probably know the one.

Now for the silver lining.  You are human!  Normal!  Everyone is all of these things and the guy who gave you a dirty look probably had a reason he feels completely justified for.  So give thanks to those around you.  Thank your wife, your kids, and your family.  Thank your co-workers, hell, thank your boss.  There must be a time you weren’t a perfect employee.  Let them know you appreciate the fact they do not always call you out for being a rude, smelly, messy, jerk who woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  They’ve already thanked you if you’re still walking around with a nice big intact ego!