“Attitude of gratitude.” Rabbi Ken Alter used those words Tuesday evening during the ecumenical thanksgiving service. They’re powerful words when you think about them – especially today, a day of thanksgiving throughout the country.
There are so many things for which each and every one of us is grateful – our families, homes, country, etc. The list may be short or quite long depending on the individual. Thinking about “grateful” as an attitude though expands beyond a list and, for me, puts a very different perspective on life in general. I liken it to a chocolate chip cookie as compared to a chocolate cookie, with the dough representing life. In the first case, the items for which one is grateful are points throughout life; in the second, being appreciative is intertwined throughout that same life. Think about it. Is there a difference for you?
While I am going to practice an “attitude of gratitude” going forward, I cannot help but think of the many things beyond family, health, home, and country for which we could be grateful. And yes, I’m going to make a list of things Colchester residents might want to think about and remember today …
· First and foremost, your Town of Colchester employees. From highway crew to library staff, police officers to Senior Center staff, Town Hall employees to fire department staff and volunteers, parks, transfer station, and fleet maintenance crews, Town employees are knowledgeable and committed individuals who care about Colchester and its residents.
· The over 100 volunteers who work on Town boards, commissions, and task forces to make Colchester a better place for all of us.
· Our many service members who give over and over again to provide us with the life we know. There are not enough words to thank both those individuals and their families.
· Colchester’s clergy and worship communities for the many opportunities they provide by bringing those communities together in meaningful ways. Just this past Tuesday evening, seven houses of worship came together to celebrate an interfaith Thanksgiving service.
· Colchester’s businesses who work as partners with each other, the Town, and the many organizations who need their help. Our support of our businesses, especially during these times, is imperative to keeping our community healthy.
· The countless men and women who give their time as volunteers in so many organizations to help others in our community and to provide role models and opportunities for our children.
· Those individuals who give in quiet ways that we will never know about, but who make a real difference to all of us. They do things like spending ten minutes picking up litter on their part of the road, driving someone in need to a doctor appointment, making a dinner for a shut-in, or bringing a book to an elderly neighbor.
This list could go on for pages. We are lucky to live in Colchester. Our community cares. When a call goes out that the Food Bank shelves are bare, it’s not long before food starts coming in. When the community finds out that the Fuel Bank is running low on funds, funds appear. The same happens when there is a need for just about anything – Colchester’s residents and businesses pull together to take care of each other.
So, today, I am very grateful – for my husband, Bob, children, Chris, Tim, and Katy, parents, Harry and Rosemay Riley, and parents-in-law, Harrison & Pat Hodge for their support no matter what I do. I am grateful to be living in a community that truly cares about each other and in a country where I am free to choose my leaders, express my opinions, and live my religious beliefs. I am grateful for those people who work each and every day to make a difference in the lives of others. I am grateful for each and every one of you – you make a difference in our community every day. And yes, I am grateful that I have the best job in the world!
I wish you a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving Day.
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