Thanksgoating
Happy Thanksgiving, to those for whom it may apply. I hope you will have a nice one and that you have thinks to be thankful for.
There are some aspects of Thanksgiving that I don’t particularly like, but the general idea of giving thanks to the things you appreciate appeals to me. I have lost a lot of things over the last few years so I have found that it’s very important to be mindful of the things I still have left. I try to remember and appreciate those things every day. The little things that matter. Because they matter a lot. And if I forget them then all I can think about is the things I don’t have. And that way there be dragons. I have started a new routine of trying to write something self-affirming or positive every morning on Facebook. I do a lot of complaining and whining and I’m often very negative about myself. So I thought it would be a good idea to start the day with something positive. Even if I don’t always completely believe what I’m saying, I figure I will try to train my mind to more readily think positively. Train the synapses and electrical pathways of the brain to travel to nicer places. And remember the good things I have. So a whole day dedicated to being thankful seems like a good idea to me. Articulate the things you normally take for granted. I like reading what other people have to be thankful for too. I like to remember that the (virtual) circles I move in are full of people who are pretty priviliged in many ways. We’re none of us perfect and we all have our demons and problems to struggle with. But when you look at what goes on in other parts of the world, and in other parts of our own worlds, we’re most of us lucky in one way or another.
So, things I’m thankful for are amongst other things….
My friends. Thank you guys. You make life more bearable. I already wrote about that on Facebook. If you’re not my friend on Facebook, then why not? I’m available.
I don’t accept family on Facebook. But I’m very thankful for my family. I couldn’t have gotten through the last few years without them and their continued help and support means the world to me. That is one of the positive sides to losing my eyesight, I have gained a whole new understanding and appreciation of my family.
I am thankful for the 10% extra eyesight I gained from the last operation. That really has made a big difference and has made everything more tolerable. I am very greatful to have that and I’m greatful that I have experienced how it would be if things were worse. It makes me appreciate what I have even more.
I am thankful for the fact that I am financially comfortable. That I can afford to get most of the things I want. That I can buy presents for my friends and donate to charities. That I don’t have to worry about not being able to afford the visual aids I might need or to turn up the heat when the cold gets too harsh for my bad circulation. I may not be rich but I have more than I need and that’s a blessing.
I am thankful that I live in Denmark. There are many places in the world where people in my situation would have a much harder life. And where any person indeed has a harder life. Denmark is a pretty great place, even though we’re being invaded by polar bears.
I’m thankful for the goats. Of course. Very thankful. For the company and the fun. The excuse for dragging myself out of the apartment, for meeting other people. I miss the ones that have passed away and I appreciate the ones I have left. Magnethe is almost six years old now. She doesn’t look a day over four. I remember the first time I saw her like it was yesterday. Yet it feels like I’ve known her for 20 years.
And speaking of goats, I made a new goat friend. When I got to the playground today I went inside the goat house. But they weren’t in there. So I spied out the bars on the window to see if I could spot them outside. And I could. And I counted four of them. Magnethe, Mio, Bob and… a new goat. I didn’t get to talk to playground staff so I don’t know who the newcomer is. But I’m guessing it’s a buck who is visiting Magnethe and Mio to get them pregnant for next year’s kid season. That would make sense. He didn’t seem too confident, though. There wasn’t much studly manliness about him. He seemed young, I would guess a couple of years old. And not that big. Magnethe pushed him away easily. And even gentle Mio chased him around a couple of times. I might be imagining things but I think she kind of liked to have someone to push around for a change. There wasn’t much romance in the air. But I imagine that once the buck feels a little more at home and once the ladies get in heat, then he’ll probably man up and get his duties done. That’s how things usually work out in the goat world.
He seemed like a friendly goat. The couple of times I got a little one-on-one time with him he would timidly eat some treats from my hand and let me pet him. But as soon as the big ladies came over he’d retreat and put some distance between them.
I do enjoy the company of goats.
Thank you for listening.
November 24th, 2011 at 23:49
<3
November 25th, 2011 at 0:24
I’m thankful my husband and I were able to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. I’m thankful for our goats and donkey.
And I’m thankful I don’t live in Denmark and have polar bears invading the land and eating all my turkey!
I’m thankful we have work lined up for a few weeks still and hopefully get some more calls for the beginning of the new year.
November 25th, 2011 at 3:28
This is the Debsters husband, and I am thankful for the Debster.
November 26th, 2011 at 10:48
Debster + Debster – Aw, ain’t it sweet? I am thankful for you guys and your animals.
November 30th, 2011 at 0:45
I took some warm water out to the animals this morning since it was below freezing. Nothing like seeing the smile on Billy’s furry face after he drank and drank and drank the warm water.
I think he may have had an “icicle beard” after that big drink. No, our animals aren’t spoiled. Not until they start asking for hot chocolate mix or coffee and tea bags for their hot water! hee, hee
I saw where a petting zoo in Virginia had zebras loose in a neighborhood. They were able to use a trank gun on them and take them back to the zoo and they’re fine.
At least it wasn’t like a few weeks ago where a guy opened the cages to his own wild tigers and lions and let them loose, then he killed himself. It was sad because they had to kill the animals, too. They tried trank guns, but didn’t have much success and the police aren’t really trained to capture lions and tigers. The public was in danger as well as the police.
Guess the guy had some financial problems and was going to be shut down. Wish he would of thought of another way to handle the problem.
Is it cold in Plume-land, too? Hope your goatzies are warm and furry. Our goatzies don’t seem to mind the cold as much as the hot, hot summer weather. Can’t hose them off with water like I did our kitty kat! hee, hee
December 2nd, 2011 at 0:10
Debster – That’s a horrible story, about the lions and tigers. Very sad.
We had a bobcat (I think it was) loose in my region not too long ago. I think they managed to capture it.
It’s very cold here, at least that’s how it feels for me. I think the woolly little goats are okay. We might get snow soon. I’m going to need my woolly socks.