Thanksgiving.

This week, I was explaining to my housemate, who is from Finland, the history of America's Thanksgiving holiday. She looked at me in astonishment, and said, "...this must be why America has been so successful! You have a holiday in which you give thanks! Finland should have a Thanksgiving!"

I am thoroughly convinced that my housemate will one day be the president of Finland, so I assured her that she could certainly institute said holiday when she is chosen as Head of State...

I have spent most of my life being embarrassed by my country, especially on a governmental (...please note: I respect my President, and his officials, even if I disagree with some of their choices and ideas...), and cultural level, but in the past year, I have become more and more proud to be an American. I live in a place where freedom is valued...I have learned that this is not the case in many places.

Freedom is costly and messy, and I'm so glad we live in a place where we are allowed to make mistakes, and have the freedom to clean up our mess. In America, there is always a solution.

I think one of the most profound ways America is different, (...and Canada...and the other places in the Commonwealth that observe a day of giving thanks), is that we take a day to be grateful. To gather as friends, family, and framily, put aside our differences, and celebrate everything for which we are grateful.

On that note, I'm thankful for freedom. I am thankful for Abraham Lincoln, who failed most of his life, but never gave up,  and reunited a nation at war with itself, and then instituted Thanksgiving. I am thankful for American forefathers, and the military (...including both of my Marine grandfathers...), who have,  at great cost, fought for my liberty.

 I'm thankful for current fathers and mothers who took risks, sacrificed much, and invested in my life. providing me a "high ceiling" of possibility...a legacy that is now my foundation on which I am to build, for my family and for the next generation.