November 11th – Remembrance Day – is a day we take out of our year to focus for a moment on the people that have served and are currently serving our country during both times of war and times of peace. For many of my friends and family, it has also become a day of focusing on the good things that are in our lives, realigning our thinking with what’s important and what is not and for taking a moment to be truly proud and thankful that we are living in Canada. I hope you take a moment on the 11th to honour those that serve and served our country – their service is separate from any political feelings you may have on national policy – and also take a moment to ponder the amazing “big picture” of how great is our country of Canada.
In this issue to the Sun, we have a resident in Talk in Tuscany asking us to turn our focus away from petty issues and refocus on important issues at hand. Another resident asks us humorously to think of others as you set out your unprotected bags of garbage for very grateful magpies and our local photographer and Tuscany resident, Erin Baer, asks that you don’t wait to capture a memory but rather embrace the time you are in and celebrate. Finally, there is a new section of the Sun asking for residents to share their funny stories and brighten each others’ days.
Two thoughts I enjoyed reading this month about gratitude:
“To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.” -Albert Schweitzer
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton
I hope you have a wonderful November.