It is not the end of the physical body that should worry us. Rather, our concern must be to live while we're alive - to release our inner selves from the spiritual death that comes with living behind a facade designed to conform to external definitions of who and what we are.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
 

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving and reflect on all we should be thankful for I cannot help but question our existence.  Why are we here and what is our purpose?  Each one of us must answer that question honestly and to ourselves.  We have the freedom to turn facts and learned experience into valuable lessons for personal growth.  Values that not only form our life but all the other lives that are intertwined with ours. First and foremost, we must always remember that we are individuals within a universe too complex for anyone to truly understand.  So what can we grasp and what should we focus on?  That which we can control for the betterment of ourselves and those we care about, and this is how to go about it.

Find what brings you joy and meaning and start doing those things now.

Step out of your comfort zone and embrace the world around you. The more you do for others, the more you'll feel comfortable in all sorts of situations. You never know whose life you might change for the better with a helping hand.

Realize that life is constantly changing and enjoy each new experience. Nothing stays the same for long — that's what makes life exciting and scary at the same time.

Practice being grateful for all things, large and small. Gratitude keeps you open to everything good in your life.

Focus completely on what is happening right now in your immediate experience. The present moment is where your life is happening – not by regretting the past or fearing the future.

Connect only with the people you respect. Don’t settle for anything less than mutually giving relationships.

Finally accept and be true to the unique individual you are. The world needs you just as you are and it is never the wrong time to do the right thing.

Peter Janowsky