Gratitude seems like a simple thing.  Being grateful for the things that you have, for the people that are around you, for the abilities that you possess – for the most part, those types of things are easy to identify. 

But gratitude in the face of anger or irritation, that’s a different story.  When I’m angry about something, or angry at someone in particular, it’s hard to remember what I’m grateful for.  It’s hard to remember that I couldn’t be this irritated at something that isn’t in my life. 

It’s funny.  For years, whenever anyone remarks about my relationship with MM, I’ve always said that the reason we work so well together is two-fold – we grew out of our young stupidity together, and we communicate.  About pretty much everything.  Probably over-communicate at times, truth be told. 

But I just realized over the past couple of weeks, difficult ones for me, that it’s more than the communication that keeps our relationship strong. 

It’s gratitude. 

Yes, the gratitude that each of us has for the other person being in our lives.  The gratitude that no matter what, we’re in this together, through thick and thin, sickness and health, and everything else that was in our marriage vows 12 years ago.  All of that is true. 

But the day to day gratitude is what I’m talking about here.

I can be pissed as hell at him, and him at me.  But we both thank each other, through the anger.  Even for things that are routine!  Don’t get me wrong – we’re still mad at each other.  We might be gritting our teeth as the thank you comes out, and it may just be habit to thank each other.  But we say it anyway. 

I guess what I’m trying to say is that while we’re angry with each other, for whatever reason at the time, we still show gratitude.  Which I think means that it’s just that much easier to get past the irritation.  Because what holds true is us, together, as a team, through anything that comes our way. So, on this day of Thanksgiving, after weeks of ups and downs, frustrations and laughter, the thing I am most grateful for is that – gratitude.  And MM, of course.  🙂

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!