On Friday Kyle and I went and voted at an advanced polling station for our federal election. The line up was long and therefore, so was the wait, but we did our civil duty. A couple folks in line were muttering cuss words, one guy realized he was in line for the wrong polling station and wasn’t happy to find out his error, etc.

That evening, after we can come home, we were talking about how long the line up was and how some people were complaining about the wait, but we stopped and realized that while our wait took a while (about 45mins), at least it was peaceful. We’re lucky to live in a country where we don’t have to fight for the right to vote, where we can stand in line and not risk being attacked physically if we vote for a certain party. There are far grater (and graver) things going on in our world today where a wait to peacefully vote for the future leader of our country seems minuscule and petty.

That being said, today in Canada is Thanksgiving. (Bet you didn’t see that segway coming, did yah? ;) ) Perhaps it’s the post-pregnancy hormones raging through me, but this year its seems like I’m especially touchy-feely and emotional. That conversation with Kyle got me thinking about all the wonderful things I have going on in my life, and how my “problems” really are first-world ones. Oh boo-hoo, my big house isn’t big enough. Oh darn, my nice, reliable car isn’t big enough. Ugh, my happy, healthy kids are wanting my attention. You get my point?

Like I said, I don’t know if it’s my hormones because I normally don’t get all worked up at Thanksgiving and reflect like this, but I am so unbelievably grateful for everything in my life. I have an amazing husband who works his butt off so I can stay home and raise our two amazing little girls, we have a roof over our heads and never have to worry about staying warm or going hungry, and we can go about our daily lives without the fear of being attacked for voting one way or another. Despite the ridiculous spats that Kyle and I get into, the acting out Isla does, or the repair bills that may pop up unexpectedly, things could be so much worse.

So this year (or next, for my American readers), while you’re standing in line at the polling stations, perhaps grumbling under your breath about waiting in a long line, be thankful for how good we have it here in North America, and be grateful for the things that matter most.