There are so many things we can be thankful for in our lives. All too often the greed inside pushes us to look at what we don’t have instead of being grateful for what we do have.
Independence
I appreciate being able to cast a vote and influence governmental decisions. While an individual vote doesn’t go very far in a federal or even state election, it does carry more weight on the local level. I have argued before that local elections are far more important than the more publicized federal races. It is nice to be able to talk to the mayor and get a bonafide response, not just some canned template letter from a spokesperson.
I enjoy religious choice. There are many different belief systems or lack thereof in the world. Many people live in countries with state sponsored religions or even worse they live in societies that would ostracize or even kill those that would change their religious preference.
The ability to freely travel through not just the different states of America, but also different countries with little impedance is a wonderful opportunity. A passport is only $100 give or take. In 28 years I have visited 40(ish) states and four foreign countries. Just imagine explaining that to someone living in 1915! We regularly drive hundreds of miles to sight see and visit with family.
Finally I am thankful for the chance to pursue my own interests. This is mostly possible thanks to our financial security. I can spend a night doing wood working, watching a tv show, or playing a board game with my wife.
Thanksgiving is only three days away and I only have one more post to do about being thankful. It is good to reflect on how much we have in our lives when we are constantly being bombarded by advertisements telling us how much we don’t have. A major part of living frugally is to avoid envy. I personally knew a pair of small business owners that each made a quarter of a million dollars a year in their mid 20s. Neither were happy with that though, because they were chasing after the people making half a million. Sometimes less is more.
What bit of independence are you thankful for?