Daniel B. Kline: Be thankful for the small things this year
Published 6:00 am Thursday, November 26, 2009
With the economy struggling, unemployment peaking and the country not quite able to right itself, I’m a little more thankful for the small things this year.
Sitting on the couch in our condo which is littered with toys and my son’s “art projects,” I find myself happy to have survived the year in relatively the same position I began it.
In 2009, I watched two friends go through unspeakable tragedies involving the loss of children.
I saw others struggle to stay employed while some fought for their lives and two courageously battled against mental illness.
This was the year when I said “is there anything I can do?” often, but was rarely able to help.
There’s a frustration in watching those closest to you struggle without being able to do anything, but there is also a warmth that rises from knowing you would if you could and if you needed something they would be there, too.
I learned this year just how many people cared and I was constantly amazed by people’s willingness to give of themselves.
Through the wonders of the Internet, I saw people rally around old friends and saw tattered bonds of friendship knit tightly together.
Even as people struggled themselves, I saw so many maintain intense compassion for others.
This was a year of worry and doubt, one where the good moments got dulled by anxiety over tomorrow.
As a retailer in this frightening economy, I went to bed every night after hearing our tally for the day and whether it was good or bad, I fell asleep wondering if anyone would come tomorrow.
I’m thankful that people did and that in our very large little store, we managed to keep people employed and make our customers happy.
There were countless people this year who spoke to me of buying a hobby item to fill the time while they were out of work and it’s always an honor to bring a little happiness into a dark situation.
This was a tough year for many and nobody was untouched by hard times.
Still, it’s comforting to see how willing people were to be there for each other and to learn just how much compassion exists.
We may think of people as greedy and selfish, but that’s people as a whole, not people in person.
Up close, I’ve learned that people genuinely worry about each other and are often willing to put the happiness of others ahead of themselves.
Mostly this year, I’m thankful for people.
From my immediate family where my wife put up with my work anxiety (and my tendency to solve it by working more) to my son who had to put up with a little less of me than he would like.
My brother probably bore the worst of my worries this year and I’m glad he was there but wish he hadn’t had to be.
Lastly, I’m thankful for my friends and that I got to be a part of their triumphs and that they allowed me to be there for their tragedies.
I found that people can face anything when they don’t have to face it alone and I’m proud that there are so many in my world who stand together.
Daniel B. Kline’s work appears in over 100 papers weekly.
When he is not writing, Kline serves as general manager of Time Machine Hobby, New England’s largest hobby and toy store, www.timemachinehobby.com.
He can be reached at dan@notastep.com or you can see his archive at dbkline.com or befriend him at facebook.com/dankline.