Yesterday was Thanksgiving. It is a time where we sit with family and friends and share what we are most thankful for. I am blessed because of the family and friends I have. I am blessed because of the amazing opportunities I have been given. I don’t take these things for granted. I have been fortunate all my life because I had family. I can’t remember Thanksgiving when I didn’t feel the joy of the holiday where there was plenty of food and lots of love. I am not blind to what is going on in the world or right in our community of Berkshire County. What I have been blessed with many others have not. I get to go to work every day. I get to go to a home where when I open the refrigerator there is food. I have shelter from the cold, and I have the love of family and we are there for each other through the good times and the tough times. I have come to see that there are so many who are not as fortunate as I am, and it puts it in into prospective for me.
I watch the news or read the stories of the war-torn countries around the world. All those people who are just trying to survive as they struggle for the basics like water and bread or shelter from the elements. They are also mourning those they have lost. Overdose deaths has taken 100,000+ lives in this country over the last year leaving empty chairs at homes across this nation. Homelessness is increasing in this country as we see more and more families, people with disabilities, and seniors among the growing numbers. I drive around this county often and you can see people sleeping in doorways or on benches trying to survive the elements. The numbers of people utilizing our food pantries continues to increase. It is getting harder and harder as more of us are living paycheck to paycheck as the holiday season begins.
The purpose of this post is not to make anyone feel guilty. I feel blessed at what I have been given. This is more a message for me to remind myself about the importance of giving back. I want everyone to have the same blessing I have and that is the love of family and the opportunities to give back. There have been many times in my life where I was steps away from being homeless and someone came along and opened their heart and their hand to help lift me up. There were times when I was in college and about to fail and someone opened their office door to me and gave me the tools to succeed. Every success I have had comes from my hard work but more important because of the belief others had in me. I work hard every day to repay them by paying it forward.
There is this great song by Josh Groban called “Thankful.” The second verse really speaks to me.
“Look beyond ourselves
There’s so much sorrow
It’s way too late to say
I’ll cry tomorrow
Each of us must find our truth
We’re so long overdue
So, for tonight we pray for
What we know can be
And every day we hope for
What we still can’t see
It’s up to us to be the change
And even though, we all can still do more
There’s so much to be thankful for”
I work to be the change, but I say to all of you that I am thankful for your support and your belief in me, and I will repay you by doing more.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 