Thankful for Psy

It is such a funny thing how when you are young and you are asked what you are thankful for, you have such different answers then when you are older. As a child we think the day begins and ends with new toys, candy, or drawings from friends. We love to play games, dance, and just BE KIDS. No responsibility, no worries, not a care in the world. There is no reason to think of being thankful for the roof over your head or the shoes on your feet, when the new Nintendo game you got yesterday is what is on your mind! The only injustices of the world that you can think of is the fact that your sister got one more Barbie than you did for Christmas, or that you didn’t get seconds when Mom cooked spaghetti. I have to say, I miss these times of naïve bliss where your head is happily in the clouds…..AS IT SHOULD BE for every child.

I was reminded of the blessings that come with having this childlike mindset as I spoke to my kids this week about Thanksgiving. We asked each other “What are you thankful for?” and the answers were so adorable. There were varying answers with one being, ‘I am thankful for the cool ninja drawing my best friend made me yesterday.’ There was another equally as meaningful response which was, ‘I am thankful for my friend who shares his crayons with me.’ I am happy to report I got a few ‘I am thankful for Ms.Nikki because she buys me presents and teaches me’ which made me smile.

The best example was an exercise I did with the child I tutor. I asked him to write down 5 things he is grateful for and why, and then 5 people he is grateful for and why. Here are his answers:

Things I am grateful for:

1.     Lobster (he eats it at Outback) because it is delicious.

2.     Skateboard because it is fast.

3.     Bike because it is funny.

4.     Nintendo because it makes him happy.

5.     Scary movies because they are scary.

People I am grateful for:

1.)   Funny friends because they make me laugh.

2.)   Grandpa because grandpa gave me a toy.

3.)   Mom because she buys me games.

4.)   Cheoon (a friend) because he gave me a game.

5.)   Psy because he made Gangnam Style.

Now, I couldn’t help but start laughing when he wrote down Psy. Of all the people in his family, friends at school, or even ME who tutors him each week, he wrote down Psy. It was just so apparent how much us overanalyzing adults need to take a page out of this kids book. Sometimes it’s just as important to be thankful for the silly insignificant things like a skateboard, or a new game, or Psy. Yes, let’s all be thankful for Psy, after all he is the one who has gotten millions of people out of their seats to dance Gangnam Style around the world right?

So tonight, I’m not going to overanalyze everything and get too deep about how thankful I am this Thanksgiving. Sure, I’m thankful for my health, my job, family, friends, and of course a roof over my head and shoes on my feet. Let’s throw in there the food on the table thing too. Tonight I’m going to be thankful for the silly, insignificant, everyday things, like hearing Gangnam style sung to me by my kinders everyday and seeing children dance the world famous dance up and down the hallways of LCI here in Seoul. I will even be thankful for the fact that so many 6 year olds at my school know the word “sexy” because of Psy’s very famous line “Hey, Sexy Lady!” It makes me laugh every time I hear it, and a little comic relief during a hard day is always welcomed.

Yes tonight, I’m going to do just that. I think I will be thankful for Psy.