For Release November 19, 2006

Blessings are Many in This Thanksgiving Season

AGRI-VIEWS

by Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent

I often notice that as summer wanes into autumn and autumn starts to feel more and more like winter, I find myself spending time in quiet reflection of the year that is rapidly slipping away. There is no doubt that the pace of the world is steadily increasing. We all see it in our every day lives. We all are trying to do more and more, trying our very hardest to squeeze the most into every day. This is a dangerous trend that has many pitfalls ahead for us.

It has become so easy to "want" more and to "do" more, that we don't put limits on ourselves. We find that the distinction between what we want and what we need becomes very blurred. I have a saying on my office wall to help me remember this. "You can't have it all, you can't do it all. Choices will have to be made." Sadly, it all too often is easier to say yes, when it would be better, and perhaps healthier, to say no.

I really treasure this time of year when I force myself to slow down, perhaps just a little. As I slow down and find that quiet reflective time, I can think about all that we have and are blessed with rather than all that we want, but probably don't need. Currently my schedule is particularly hectic, so this time to quietly reflect is even more precious. I know that this is a temporary period and a year from now my calendar will be a little more kind. But that makes the blessings, those things that I am thankful for, even more special.

So how many times each day do you hear somebody talk about what's wrong with our community? I hear people talking negative about some aspect of our area on a daily basis. What's really frustrating is that it is usually someone that has lived here for twenty years or longer. So I find it a real blessing when I get to visit with newcomers to our community who talk about how much they enjoy living here. I feel that we have two choices. We can spend all our time thinking about what has been and complaining about what is, or we can spend time thinking about what could be and helping to create a better tomorrow. I think that I'll choose the latter, because we do live in a wonderful area!

I have had the privilege, the past few years, to travel around the country quite a bit. I find wonderful people everywhere I go. But as much as I enjoy the traveling around, I look forward to returning home after every single trip. I look forward to it, because there are so many great people here. If you have lived here all your life, you may not realize it, but our community is very accepting. When I first moved here, I never once felt like I had to prove myself or establish myself to be part of the community. I immediately felt part of this community. That is something very special that many areas don't have.

I'm thankful to be living in a country where we can still speak what is on our mind without fear of retaliation. Recently, we had election day. Those voters that went to the polls all across this country decided that they wanted change. Some of those changes I agree with, some I don't. But these changes happened without bloodshed. These changes happened without a military coup. And I'm thankful to be living in a country where people can worship the way they want to, not the way that the government says to.

So you see, we really do live in an incredible country and a wonderful part of that country. And this Thursday, I'm going to spend a few quiet moments alone and give thanks in my own particular way for all the wonderful blessings that we have!

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