Why I’m Thankful. Time to Count My Blessings

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around".  Willie Nelson said that.  I read it somewhere earlier this week and it made me think.  I wondered what had changed for Willie when he counted of his blessings... and what had brought him to that point in his life.

I don't think  I've ever really "counted my blessings".   It always seemed like just a cliche expression.   I've realized I was pretty lucky with my draw in life, but I never dwelled too much on it or did an inventory of  all  in-stock blessings.  But if Willie Nelson could do it, so can I.  I'm not usually this competitive with Willie, I don't know what's gotten in to me.
Health:  I've been lucky to have been in fairly good health my entire life.  That means more to me as I get older and lose that youthful feeling of invincibility.  I've always read the obituary section of the newspaper.  Sometimes it's the most interesting section of the paper- some fascinating stories. Lately I'm noticing many people my age and younger are dying.  I'm lucky I'm not one of them.

Job: In a time when many people can't find any job,  I do the only job I've ever had any real interest in doing and it's what I've done my entire working life.  I decided I wanted to be on the radio in my sophomore year in high school and I never changed my mind.  Don't get me wrong.  I thought about it a couple of times, I just couldn't think of anything better to do. Being on the radio is a tough and surprisingly unglamorous job.  I spent a good deal of my life moving around the country to find a better radio job and that meant leaving many people and things behind along the way.  I miss some of those people but, overall, I wouldn't change a thing.

Home:    I have  a house at the beach, in a nice neighborhood,  in the greatest country on the planet.  How many people can say that?

Family:  My dad is still going strong at 87 years-old and I have two sisters and many extended family members who I like to spend time with, but don't get much of a chance.
Wife: My wife Beth is beautiful, talented, compassionate, and very patient.  Patience is important when you're dealing with me.  I love her and she loves me and we are very happy together.

Kids:  Eileen and Bridget are my 5 year-old  identical twin daughters.  They are healthy, smart,  beautiful and very loud.  They have been my life's biggest surprise.  After years as a bachelor, I am now getting to know family life and finding I have a lot to learn!  It gets back to that patience thing I mentioned.  But the unadulterated love I feel for these two girls is amazing.  Beth & I went to their Kindergarten Thanksgiving play the other day and as I watched them up on stage saying how thankful they were for their family,  in their cute little 5 year-old voices, my heart just melted.  It doesn't get any luckier than that.

That's not bad for a quick inventory of my blessing.  Thanks for the idea, Willie Nelson.