American Thanksgiving is a time to eat turkey, to fellowship with family and friends, but more importantly to be mindful of our blessings and be thankful for what we have been given.
While many around the world are in turmoil, hurting, or even lack the basic needs of survival, I really have much much more than I could ask for.
Here are 5 things I’m extremely grateful for this Thanksgiving, keeping in mind those that are much less fortunate.
1. An Appetite and an Abundance of Food
I’ve been given an appetite and a love for food from around the world. I’ve never gone hungry.
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2. A Dry Good-Condition Apartment
At the beginning of November 2011 (after returning from Sri Lanka) I moved into a new apartment in Bangkok. I’m still on a similar cost of living budget, but even when there are floods around town my apartment and area remain dry.
3. An Incredible Family and Friends
I grew up in an amazing family with loving parents and an incredible sister – it was a privilege that sadly not everyone has. I have a family that I’m thankful for and now a girlfriend that I am also very thankful for!
4. Being Able to See New Places
Along with eating, seeing and experiencing new places around the world is my passion – and I’m blessed to be able to travel.
5. Working Online and Blogging
I really enjoy blogging and I’m extremely grateful that I can travel, eat, write, and do a few other side freelance jobs to make enough to continue working online from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
I’m thankful for being able to blog on Migrationology and Eating Thai Food and for the opportunity to write regularly for Go Backpacking and for a number of other travel / food sites.
These 5 things mentioned are just the tip of things I’m thankful for.
Do you have anything you’re especially thankful for this year?
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Thailand Friends
12 years ago
Just ran across the site. Good stuff. I wanted to add that living overseas does make you appreciate and thankful. When I go home and my friends and family talk about mundane problems they think are important, I can’t help but see their concerns as petty compared to what’s going on around the world. Oh, your 5000 channels of cable went out last week and you missed your favorite show? Maybe you should just be thankful you have 5000 channels of entertainment to choose from in the first place.
Since I began living overseas, simplicity is my new way of life. I am thankful for what I have and don’t spend wasted mental cycles worrying about what I don’t have or how things could be better.
eileen ludwig
12 years ago
What an awesome list with pictures to prove it – love this story
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks a lot Eileen!
ladakh tour
12 years ago
Thanksgiving massage is really should be done. America is nice place . It is the developed country .all type of hotels are there which provide all necessary things to visitor.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks!
Kellie
12 years ago
I love the photos you have here for us and the apartment looks great!!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Kellie!
Christy @ Ordinary Traveler
12 years ago
Lovely post. I try to remember the things I’m grateful for on a daily basis, but sometimes I forget. You do have a very cool life and one to be thankful for. 🙂
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Christy. It’s a great things to remember the things we are thankful for on a daily basis, but it can be difficult when we get wrapped up with all our daily activities. Hope you guys are doing well!
jade
12 years ago
Having food and being thankful for it is something so important. We are also thankful of those things and having good health, too.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Jade – great to hear that!
Micamyx|Senyorita
12 years ago
Great post, Mark! I am also thankful that i am currently doing what i love to do. Food and Traveling truly inspired me and seeing my family from time to time is a big plus. The only thing i lack right now is a lovelife LOL. Keep on traveling, Mark! 😀
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks! Awesome that you also enjoy food and traveling, and that you get to see your family from time to time. The love-life will fall into place when it’s time!!!
Roy Marvelous
12 years ago
I love reading all these gratitude posts. If only everyone did it more than once a year!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Roy! We should definitely not forget to remember what we are thankful for throughout the entire year – but Thanksgiving is a good time to think about it!
Aussie on the Road
12 years ago
I really do wish Australia had an equivalent to Thanksgiving. It’s really heart-warming to read people taking some time to focus on the positives in their lives.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks a lot Chris!
Sherry
12 years ago
I think these are among the most important things to have in the world. And I’m so glad that you recognize them and that you have been blessed to have them as part of your life. Here’s to another year full of thanks.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Sherry! I really do feel blessed to have these things. Hope you are doing well also and Happy Thanksgiving.
Arti
12 years ago
Thats a great Thanksgiving post mark. You have pretty much covered all bases!! The pics are beautiful too…
Have a wonderful day, God Bless:)
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Arti! I just ate a fish and some other Thai food this Thanksgiving day!
Lyka Ricks
12 years ago
Happy Thanksgiving! A Great Year full of Blessings! Continue to be Blessed and be a Blessing to everyone. You blogs are blessings for us.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thank you very much Lyka! Hope you have an awesome day!
Christy @ Technosyncratic
12 years ago
It’s always nice to take the time to be reflective. 🙂 I’m so grateful that we have flexibility and control over our own lives – so many people’s lives are dictated by others, and I feel lucky that we’ve managed to escape that.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks for sharing Christy! Having flexibility and control of our own lives really is something to be thankful for!
Zablon Mukuba
12 years ago
Things to be thankful for
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Zablon!
Juno
12 years ago
Great post Mark. Glad to see you are enjoying your life and grateful about it! Sometimes, it’s so easy taking things for granted. Good to have a chance to look back and thankful for things that we have. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving, Mark!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks a lot Juno! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
Colleen
12 years ago
Happy Thanksgiving, Mark! = )
Thank you for the wonderful Thanksgiving messages.
Your girlfriend is very beautiful. = ) If you get married and have children, their smiles will be A-MA-ZING !!!
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Colleen! Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!
Caanan @ No Vacation Required
12 years ago
Here, here!
Stephen
12 years ago
I think I could say the same exact five things for myself, and I’m extremely grateful for them too.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Great to hear that Stephen!
[email protected]
12 years ago
Excellent post! It’s tough to not take for granted the privileges we have. This write up reminds me how fortunate I am to have the ability to travel and enjoy amazing food around the world.
Mark Wiens
12 years ago
Thanks Mike. It really is hard to stop and think about our privileges – it seems like days just fly by and I rarely take the time to think about the things I am blessed with.