As I sat down to write a blog for this Thanksgiving, I found myself feeling guilty.  I considered a message that shared my gratitude for all that I am thankful for this year from the amazing adventures I had in Antarctica and Moab to the experience of training for the NY Marathon.  But as I wrote the words about how much I love my life, it began to feel awkward.  My mind shifted to those who might read this and are unable to find gratitude in their lives.  I almost felt ashamed of my happiness at a time when so many are suffering.

First, let me be clear, there’s nothing political about this.  People suffer daily no matter what goes on in the outside world.  The fact that much of it is in our face like never before may be even more a function of our interaction with social media and the media at large than it is about the root of the suffering.  The world has seen hate, violence, hunger, sickness, and sadness for as long as mankind has walked this planet.  And even if what we may choose to consume online is full of joy and happiness, there are those who are struggling not just this holiday but every holiday.

What this post is about is the enormously tough task of finding gratitude not just in what makes us smile, but in what hurts.

With Thanksgiving approaching, it occurred to me that one of the themes underlying many of my previous blog posts has been gratitude.  At its core, Legally Fit is about my appreciation for this life that has been transformed and saved and giving thanks to those who support my journey along the way.  Being grateful motivates me to share my story with the hopes of paying it forward to anyone who might benefit from my experience.  Approaching this holiday week, it also made me think about gratitude in another way – specifically, the benefits of being grateful.