A very Happy Thanksgiving to my readers in the United States and warm regards to my readers around the world. I want to stop and take a moment this day to reflect upon the many blessings that have been bestowed upon me, particularly the blessing of friendship.
This is a travel blog, but first and foremost I am deeply grateful for my faith and family, pillars upon which everything else is possible.
Today, I want to focus on the generosity of friendship and how that has made travel so sweet. Over the last year, I’ve quite literally traveled the world. Some of the trips have been solo, but many have been in the company of friends (including my wife, who is my best friend and a patient saint who has been steadfastly loyal and supportive).
As much as I love solo travel, there is nothing like traveling with someone else. Sharing memories in places from Paris to Petra and from Copenhagen to Cape Town is a blessing beyond travel itself. Travel is a noble end in itself, but traveling with others is more than icing on the cake, but unlocks a deeper dimension of joy that compounds with travel to create a pinnacle of human exultation.
Life can throw curveballs. I’ve been through a whole lot over the last few years and just as the joy of friendship is a peak, the betrayal of friends represents a deep and dark valley of pain and despair. But sometimes it is necessary to move forward, learn from our mistakes, and not look back. In fact, I would submit that is one path to maturity and one path toward true thanksgiving for those who are true friends.
So as I look back on the year, I am deeply grateful for my friends and for the new friendships that have blossomed. I am thankful that after eight years of marriage my friendship and love for my wife grows deeper and my work-life balance better reflects the priorities that I espouse.
Thanks to all of you for reading this blog, a labor of love, and for your insightful comments (for the most part…).
Wherever you find yourself today, take a moment to give thanks for your friends.
“The sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
-Proverbs 27:9B
Very nice post. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family also!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Matthew.
Happy Thanksgiving @Matthew! Hope you have a great time celebrating with your beautiful family.
Cheers Matthew Happy Thanksgiving!
Is that photo of Petra from Abraham’s Place? Did you take the hike there with Lost?
I did take a hike up there. It was a great part of the trip. Trip report coming next month!
I have been enjoying your column. And you sound like a very nice person. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.
Great post, Matthew! God’s blessings to you and your family.
Thank you Matthew for enlightening blog and travels! Happy thanksgiving to all
Hope you have a great thanksgiving, my friend. I am grateful for your insight.
Luke
A Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you. Enjoy.
Happy Thanksgiving Matt. My father-in-law in Odessa is fine (he’s happy with his life there) and all my friends and relatives are doing well. I did some cooking at a friend’s house for the day and my daughter was allowed some time on my wife’s iphone for youtube.
I’m saving Jetblue FF points for my wife for a special Bahamas week this spring or summer and United points in case anything happens in Ukraine we need quick flights for.
Thank you for the blog! It’s entertaining and wholesome.