Today is Remembrance Day (or Veterans Day, or Armistice Day, depending where you live). The day commemorates the signing of an armistice which brought forth a formal end to the hostilities of World War I on the "11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" in 1918. (The war's official end being brought about by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.)
Remembrance Day in the UK was dedicated by George V in 1919 to remember the members of the armed forces who had lost their lives during World War I.
This week's Marvellous Monday, therefore, has a theme of gratitude.
Though war and peace will come and go, though life can be challenging and appear to be nothing but a dark tunnel, somewhere in our lives there is something to be grateful for.
Whether it's a wonderful family, a roof over our head, the adoration of a pet, the satisfying conversation we had with a stranger, or the fact we have clothes upon our back, there is something.
Even the things that don't immediately effect us are there to be thankful for: the scientists working to find cures for disease, the authors working on the future best-sellers that will captivate our hearts and inflame our imaginations, or the farmers toiling in the fields to grow the crops that will end up on our dinner table.
We have the trees that provide shade on a hot day and wood on a cold one, and take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, allowing us to breathe better air. We have flowers to bring colour to our world and produce pollen for the bees that are such a vital part of our ecosystem (and make delicious honey).
I hope it is possible to say that everyone reading this has a safe, secure home, too.
You might wonder about those who feel their life to be so terrible that they have nothing to be grateful for: that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
That light comes in the form of the people who care. Those who drop by to check in on a sick family member, those doing their best to support a troubled friend on the other side of the internet. The people who set up charities and those that donate to them. Those who give aid.
Those who will not give up on anything--or anyone.
Those who fight - through action or words - for the peace and equality they believe they can achieve.
Take a moment today to dwell on what you are grateful for. It could be one thing, it could be a thousand. Embrace those things, thank the people around you for what they do for you. And have a Marvellous Monday ♥
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Reading all your sweet comments makes me happy! :) I appreciate each and every one and try to reply to all that I can!