Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, I moved a lot, and no matter where I went to school in this country, Thanksgiving was always given a good deal of attention. After all, it is a lot of fun! I loved the turkeys made from construction paper, the lists we made of things we were grateful for, and learning about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans, and the first Thanksgiving feast.

When I was younger, it was natural for me to be thankful. I was filled with a sense of curiosity and wonder about almost everything I encountered. I smiled a lot, and would often break into song and dance out of sheer joy. I was happy to be alive, and I was happy to be me. When I am down, I like to remember how I felt before my moods started to betray me.

I have enjoyed most of my Thanksgivings, but a few have been overshadowed by depression. On those years, it was difficult to take part in what was expected to be a festive occasion, and not be able to share in the Thanksgiving spirit. If I am depressed during the holidays, I just try to go through the motions as quietly as possible. I have never figured out what else to do.

This year I am grateful to be in good spirits thanks to medication and therapy, a healthy lifestyle, and a good dose of  luck, I'm sure. Whatever the reasons, I'm feeling blessed and looking forward to spending time enjoying Thanksgiving with my family. The older I get, the more I appreciate my loved ones. I am fascinated by how our relationships have evolved over time. I can't believe that I am only halfway through my life. I have struggled a great deal at times, but I have learned so much, and I appreciate life more with each passing year. Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

2 comments:

  1. Truly, it is a trait of Bipolar Disorder and the struggles with Depression that may bring a wonderful Holiday as Thanksgiving to a halt. Medications and therapies are helpful to control the severity of Depression Modes...Might I suggest a helpful asset,that of using "positivity".If we can always look at the positive side of Thanksgiving and all that it stands for,surely we can find hope with Depression and know that it will pass soon. Being grateful for who and Whose we belong to is what comes from "Positivity" !

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