COMMENTARY: Who should we thank at Thanksgiving?

Everything, good or bad, makes us who we are
be thankful.jpg
be thankful.jpg

With Thanksgiving just around the corner the perennial question is who should we thank for all the things we have experienced during the year?  Notice I did not say all the good things because everything, good or bad, makes us who we are. If we like ourselves, as we should, then the mix must have been just about right.  

Most religious people take some time to thank God, but I do not think God, if you believe in God, does anything to help individual human beings. If God did then God would be very busy because most of us are constantly asking for God’s help. Merely sorting out who deserves help would keep God very occupied. The belief in God, a Supreme Being, or even a natural concept may be responsible for human action, but that is not direct intervention.    

My personal view is that, for the most part, humans influence their own world with their souls. I do not use the term "heart" because the heart is merely an organ, a pump to move blood, whereas the soul is who you really are – the total of your being. The soul has nothing to do with any physical attribute or economic condition; you can be beautiful and wealthy and still be unhappy because there will always be someone more beautiful and wealthier than you are. 

If you are content in your soul, nothing can change that condition, but how can one come to that place? Start by respecting yourself and respecting others and do not forget to thank those who have contributed to your soul, most of all.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Marty and Joyce Richman  

Marty Richman

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Marty (Martin G.) spent his teen years in northern New Jersey. He served more than 22 years on active military duty, mostly in Europe, and is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, Nuclear Weapons Technical Officer. Marty then worked 25 years in various engineering and management positions in the electronics and energetic materials industries supporting the communications, computer, aerospace, defense and automotive sectors. He is a graduate, summa cum laude, from The College of Hard Knocks, among his numerous awards and accomplishments. He was a regular weekly Op/Ed columnist and feature writer for The Hollister Free Lance for seven years and a member of its editorial board for five years. Marty is a frequent commentator and contributor to BenitoLink on a wide variety of local, state, national and international subjects.   Marty was elected to represent the City of Hollister District 4 on the City Council in November, 2018. Marty and his wife, Joyce, have been residents of Hollister since 1996.