That sound you hear is the collective sigh – or groan – of people coming to terms with the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, they’re all on the horizon. And it leaves us with so much opportunity to give thanks.
For one, I give thanks to live in a community that prides itself in lending a helping hand. Time and again, we’ve seen it this year. From families who experienced unexpected tragedies and struggles to organizations who bring us amazing, annual events, the cities in North Wright County offer everything from a cheer and a “heck yeah!” to a should to cry on and back to carry you with. There’s evidence of it up and down this past year, and I’m glad to live here, work here and contribute what I can to all of the causes.
Aurora Borealis over Wright County. Photo by Jeff Grotte
I’m also grateful to live in a community that is engaged, involved and interested. Some call it gossip. I call it being in the know. Some call it arguing. I call it expressing your side or opinion through lively discussion. The fact is, we’re blessed to live in a community, state and nation that provides us with the channels for free and pertinent information. Our country allows us to participate and lively discussion. And our people are thriving thanks to the belief that you can accomplish anything with a group of like-minded individuals who can collectively set their minds to a mission.
I’m thankful for youth activities, from education to athletics, religious clubs to summer camp, that provide our kids with opportunity to grow. Look at the end result! St. Michael-Albertville, Otsego and other area kids are seeing success like never before. Some are capturing state championships on the field of play or in the arena. Others are making their way on to national television shows or, even, the White House.
Yes, there are challenges. There are struggles every day. Knowing as much as we do as quickly as we do can spawn such things as fear, anger and outrage. But, in the end, cooler heads often prevail. Eventually, we realize we all want what’s best for our friends and families, whether it’s a movie theater or a church; hockey arena or a new park. We have never known attacks on our way of life such as this, yet we’ve never lived in a time or period where safety has been such a priority, and our lives are longer, in terms of time, than ever before.
We are fortunate to express our faith how and where we want. We are lucky enough to live in areas with good roads, clean water, green trees and lush yards. So many other places, we’d not have that opportunity.
So whether you’re having turkey dinner with all the fixings later this week, or you’re donating your time to some charity, or you’re lacing up those running shoes in Hanover Thursday morning – I’ll leave with one parting message:
Thank you for being you. Without you, none of this would be possible.
On behalf of the NWCT staff, our family and friends:
Happy Thanksgiving, wherever you might be.