Thanksgiving Thoughts...

Well, Thanksgiving 2009 is finally here. This holiday evokes a number of different thoughts for each of us. For some, it brings on the realization that the year is almost over. For others it marks the beginning of the holiday season and all of the accompanying activities such as shopping, parties, and family gatherings. And of course there's the turkey and football crowd. For them it provides an opportunity to gorge themselves on all the fixings, sit on a couch, and watch the games.

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

For me it is a time to give thanks to our creator, thanks for everything in my life, for my family, my home, my job, and my health. But before I stray too far off topic (I kind of already did), I'll bring us back to the subject at hand. How does Thanksgiving and giving thanks or counting our blessings apply to a website about paddling? I'm glad you asked, so I'll tell you.

We live in one of the best countries in the world....I take that back. We live in the BEST country in the world for paddling. We have tropical paddling and arctic paddling. We have whitewater, flatwater, coastal, creek, and offshore paddling. We can paddle in January and we can paddle in July. We can paddle during any time of year and in virtually any location. And, we have the freedom and financial resources to do it.

We all have a lot to be thankful for, or if you prefer- to appreciate, about where we live, the resources we have, and the freedom we have to do it. All of this enables us to do something as relatively insignificant as paddling canoes and kayaks (insignificant when you realize that there are people in the world who are starving) with complete freedom in the best conditions in the world.

Just some things to think about...

Happy Thanksgiving!