By Matthew Brooke November is the time to be grateful! With Thanksgiving at the end of the month it is important to remember all the positive things in your life that you are thankful for. We are always thankful for our families, regardless of how frequently they can get on our nerves. Personally...

By Matthew Brooke

November is the time to be grateful!
With Thanksgiving at the end of the month it is important to remember all the positive things in your life that you are thankful for. We are always thankful for our families, regardless of how frequently they can get on our nerves.
Personally, one of the many things that I am grateful for is the time I spend with my extended family that I typically don’t see throughout the year. There is nothing more enjoyable than tying one on and shooting the breeze with people you rarely see. My relatives, like I’m sure yours are, can be a little rambunctious and a little over the top once you lit a figurative fire under their rear. It only takes one little remark about politics or world events to rile up anyone after one or two beverages and that always makes for interesting conversations.
The best part about conversing with family that you rarely see is the sure fact that you missed out on all their life drama throughout the year and now you can simply enjoy their stories of how they resolved their problems and what they are currently up to. I’m sure all relatives that don’t know too much about what is going on with the youngsters lives love to ask that favorite question of ‘How’s school going?’. I know I have been asked that question almost one too many times in my life when I was younger but that never stopped me from smiling and responding politely ‘Good.’
Other things that you should be grateful for is health. Whether that is because you are in good health currently or because you have recovered from a troubling aliment, both are reasons to celebrate! The health of your family and friends is another reason to be grateful. Who would want those loving and kind people to be in bad shape?

Near the end of the year it is always beneficial to look back on the year you’ve had, to see what you’ve accomplished and to see what obstacles you’ve overcome. There are always bright spots in a year to reflect upon and learn from. Even the negative times throughout the year should be reflected upon, while not all things in your life can be good it is important to understand why these things happened and to learn from them.
Take some time this fall to reflect and learn more about yourself and your world!