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Opinion: Take a minute to reflect and give thanks, says West Potsdam man

Posted 11/23/22

To the Editor: The older I get, the more I enjoy my “quiet time” from all the daily grind that life presents. For most of my life, it was easy to focus energy and worry on negative stuff, that I …

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Opinion: Take a minute to reflect and give thanks, says West Potsdam man

Posted

To the Editor:

The older I get, the more I enjoy my “quiet time” from all the daily grind that life presents. For most of my life, it was easy to focus energy and worry on negative stuff, that I now know, was stuff that robbed my life of joy.

Some folks say that, given the chance to start over, “I wouldn’t change a thing”. I surely would. Lots of people have regrets but looking back can’t effect the past. Being thankful will change you from the inside, out.

Life isn’t always as bad as we make it out to be. No matter how low your situation might seem, it is really all relative. Retrospect brings focus. Most of us know someone that complains about everything. But I assure you that someone is worse off than you and would gladly change places. Are you homeless, or in the ICU, or in a nursing home away from everything you love? How about addiction problems or trying to provide care for a family member that doesn’t remember who you are? Do have a little kid fighting for life at St. Jude?

Time to reflect and change our focus. Jesus talked about being thankful and St. Paul gives many examples and instruction about the importance for giving thanks. “Be thankful for everything”. I wish I had known that 70 years ago. Now, I thank God for everything. Sometimes, I thank Him for helping me find my coffee cup!!

Simply put, count your blessings. Have a wonderful day of family, food, football and Thanksgiving.

Glenn Niles
West Potsdam