The last few weeks have been an incredible reminder of how incredibly lucky I am because, in the midst of the sadness and grief of losing my dad, I was reminded of just how full both his life was and my life is.
So today, while it is so hard to have Thanksgiving without my dad, I am making an active choice to remember how thankful I should be — and am — today.
I am thankful to have a father in my life for 41 years who was an incredible role model and dad.
I am thankful to have a close-knit family that rallies together at the big moments.
I am thankful to be married to an amazing woman who I love more every day.
I am thankful for two incredible children who bring me joy every day.
I am thankful for the many, many friends who enrich my life.
I am thankful to be able to do work I love, that makes a difference in the world, and that asks the best of me.
I am thankful to work with and for a community that takes care of each other — including taking care of the principal when needed.
I am thankful for all of this and so much more.
And so here’s my thought for Thanksgiving Day: We should remember to be thankful every day, because, no matter how hard our lives are, we have things to be thankful for – and more often than not, the “things” we have to be thankful for are people. Let’s make sure we take a moment every day – not just Thanksgiving Day – to be thankful for our lives.
This coming year, let’s try to live in a state of thankfulness more often. Let’s say make it a point to say “thank you” to the folks in our lives who matter — and mean it — every day. And then, let’s see if that actually makes us more likely to realize all the amazing pieces of our lives and maybe even a little more likely to be willing to live our lives as people others are thankful for. That’s my best idea today – that I will try to live more often in a state of thankfulness. I hope you are willing to join me in that idea.
Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone.
I’ve never met you but heard in one of the NCTE ignite sessions that you couldn’t be there because you lost your father. My thoughts are with you. I hope to meet you someday as I teach at a STEM school in Hollywood and we’re reaching to be, what it appears, your school is. Be well and may this Thanksgiving be one of comfort, remembrances, and support from those around you.