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Living for Thanksgiving The title of my speech tonight, Living for Thanksgiving, doesnt mean quite what it sounds.

I understand that most of you who know me can make the assumption that I live for that special day, once a year, when everyone gorges themselves and passes out on couches. But ironically, for as much as I love turkey-day, the significance of that meal and what it stands for carries a much greater message. What is giving thanks? And to whom is our thanks given? Just how much of an impact do the relationships we have with others play in our lives? I stand before you tonight humbled in the realization that so many of the achievements we have accomplished are the result of the encouragement weve received from those around us. And actually, in my opinion, we can only progress in life with the help and support of others. This isn't to say that simple tasks like brushing your teeth require a family member standing beside you, but rather that the important milestones in life such as our graduation are the result of the influence that so many of those around us have played. Basically, it all boils down to one idea: gratitude. It's a concept that has helped me move forward in life. The simplest application of this is how I feel towards my teachers. Every single teacher I've had has left an impression on me in some way or another, whether it be the teachers who challenged me intellectually, the ones who brightened my day with their sense of humor, or the ones who never failed to discipline me when I was out of line. Making mistakes is a part of life, but its one thing for a teacher to simply hand down punishment as though theyve never made a mistake before themselves, however Im thankful for the teachers who want to make amends and show that they look for the good in people. I suppose an alternative title for my speech could be The Attitude of Gratitude. I'm convinced that this mentality really does play a major role in shaping the future of not just youth, but adults as well. If we realize that there are people in our lives that offer themselves to help us succeed, we are kept accountable (and I'd hope that most everyone here can agree with me that accountability is a good thing), and we owe them our respect.

Let me put in this in a more understandable way: there are many different types of teachers we experience through school. There are some who make it very apparent that they want us to learn at our fullest potential, and then there are others who make us wonder what possessed them to want to work with kids in the first place. Luckily for us, all the teachers of Markesan (the ones I've had, anyway) fall in that first category, and it's good to express gratitude to people to show that we aren't taking them for granted. Another way of showing how gratitude is apparent in our lives is to discipline ourselves. Take away something you often take for granted. Try fasting for a day, and your dinner table will seem more meaningful. Maybe try avoiding your friends for a day...familiarity breeds contempt, but absence makes the heart grow fonder. It's good to count your blessings, and all those around you aren't to be forgotten. Point is, gratitude shouldn't be limited to once a year when everyone is sitting around a turkeythat's just tackyit should be a part of daily life. What I like about the idea of gratitude is that it simply allows you to step back and take a look at the big picture. Sometimes, it's hard to see how certain things in our life could ever be fair, whereas it's possible that these problems could be shaping us into better people. However, some hidden blessings can have a negative effect on determining our behavior. Beauty can breed vanity. Intelligence can inflate an ego. Strength can lead to combative behavior. All these things are still blessings, but we have to channel our appreciation to the right place (or person, rather), than just to ourselves. Gregg Krech, the director of the ToDo Institute, tells us to reflect, notice, and express. He once stated, The more I think I've earned something or deserve something, the less likely I am to feel grateful for it. As long as I think I'm entitled to something I won't consider it a gift. But when I am humbled by my own mistakes or limitations, I am more likely to receive what I am given with gratitude and a true sense of appreciation for the giver as well as the gift. So who is the Giver of gifts? Saint Peter wrote in his first Epistle to various churches in Asia that all gifts are handed down from God, and that we should use them to serve one another. Chapter

4 verse 11 states, Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God The very fact that we are here beckons gratitude; being alive is a good thing! I believe life is essentially goodits filled with tragedy, chaos, depression, wars, but it still fundamentally good. Now obviously I understand its impossible to carry this awestruck wonder with you day in and day out not with homework assignments, tests, and quizzes being thrown at you every day; not with some jerk honking at you on the interstate; not with having to listen to nine voicemails on your answering machine when you come home from a long day of work. We are constantly reminded through tiresome realities that life can be dull, and it keeps us continually grumpy. Sometimes the only thing we can do is just try to bite our lip and wade through life day by day, finishing that to-do list one item at a time. Life can be perpetually boring, and I understand that. But we can all admit that there are times when we realize the awesomeness of life; like when you watch a friend achieve something theyve been working hard at for years, or at the end of a fireworks show when dozens of multicolored sparks splatter over the entire sky; there are just those times when you sit back, fold your hands behind your head and say, whoa, it really is great to be alive! Sadly, pride and ego destroy this mentality. They plunge our world into darkness. Ego is selfserving; it focuses only on the future and hordes all it can for itself. Its constantly worried about scarcity and that there just wont be enough. Gratitude reminds us that the resources around us are a blessing and that we may not be able to hold on to them even in the best of circumstances. Gratitude reminds us that true joy in life is to serve others and to be a blessing to everyone around us. Be grateful, and weave it into your very being, for that is a life worth living. Congratulations Class of 2008, Im proud of each and every one of you for sticking through it. I wish you the best of luck as we all start this new stage in life.

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