Have you ever asked yourself why you should be thankful?

In the midst of our hectic lives, doesn’t it become almost too easy to take thankfulness for granted? After all, it’s very easy to toss off a quick thank you, and, then, move on, right? What good does being thankful do for me? Let’s just get on with life!

Hold on! Stop and smell the roses of being thankful.

During a recent visit to New York City, I was invited to do a bit of tasting, and you know, it was all about tasting different liquids. I expect you saw that one coming, but we tasted spirits, liqueurs and wines. I had to do it since I like to mirror Minnesota Nice, and I was thankful for the opportunity.

One of the liquids we sampled was L’oceade Sauvignon Blanc from France. With its pear and apple tastes, the wine was perfectly balanced all the way to its finish. Merci, family!

There are always the delightful times of reuniting with old friends. I just finished such an event with a wonderful family I’ve known for a number of years. It was overwhelmingly satisfying. There was a ton of laughter over a cup of coffee, yep, coffee, at our local coffee shop. I am so glad we stay in touch. Our stories might be different, but we laugh the same. Ua tsaug, old friends.

I expect all of us know someone who’s experiencing health challenges. Naturally, we offer any kind of support we can for them, and we keep them in our minds and hearts. This situation should be a reminder to all of us to be thankful for every day our health remains strong. We have a family member who is going through a rough patch right now. She lives in Norway, and I’m delighted to have met that extended family member. Takk!

I am indebted to the teachers who mentored me along my life’s journey. Their input encouraged me to attend upper level graduate college courses to discover the who, what and why of me. Through that understanding, I have a greater knowledge of our county’s history, world history, the wisdom of philosophers, the basic foundational teachings of faith and who we all are. To all my past teachers, I’ll raise a glass of Bell’s Robust Porter. Viele danke!

We must never forget the myriad of people who are involved in putting food on our tables. Having been raised on a farm, I know a bit about the mental and physical stress that process encompasses. We are all indebted to those who labor in the fields. Gracias!

Naturally, I must include a slice of gratitude to all the wine growers in Italy. I don’t think I’ve tasted an Italian wine that I didn’t enjoy. Of course, this thankfulness extends to all the wine makers around the world. And since I’m currently enjoying a bottle of Davinci Pinot Grigio, grazie!

By the way, being thankful is beneficial to one’s mental and physical well being. Reach out and say thanks to someone or something. Think of how lucky you are to have what you have and say thanks to all those folks who helped you achieve your goals.

I like to say thank you to Mother Nature. When I see the natural beauty around me, it deserves a nod of gratitude. Try it. I think you’ll find yourself smiling and feeling better.

Being thankful is the gift that keeps on giving. We should always be thankful for all the blessings in our lives.

Finally, always, always be thankful for the gift of life.

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!

Cheers!