Are you an Ingrate?

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Earlier today I overheard a person, who I know, say that they were not in the spirit for Thanksgiving tomorrow as they have nothing to be thankful for. This person is currently unemployed and said that they have nothing to be thankful since they have no employment. I know this particular person fairly well and have for a long time, and let me tell you, lack of employment is nothing new for him. This particular person seldom keeps a job longer than a couple months before he quits for some trivial reason. I get the impression that this person doesn't really want a job because when he is between jobs, he spends most of his time in bed, and/or watching tv, and very very little of his time actually looking for employment. I know this person well and can tell you for sure that he is quite lazy. However, all that aside, even if he really does want a job and really is feeling down due to not having one, for him to say that he has nothing to be thankful for is a bit hasty at the very least. For starters, he lives in a fairly decent home. He does not appreciate the home he lives in much as he often refers to it as "a hovel". However it's a clean house with a large, private yard. Some of the walls are a little crooked, as is common in older homes, but they are sturdy. There are a few problems, a couple of ceiling tiles in one of the bedrooms need to be replaced (only 2 ) but its nothing major. There is a drawer in the kitchen which needs to be fixed. Aside from that, there is nothing wrong with the place where this guy lives. But if that is a "hovel" to him, than it is. The point is, he has a home. Some people don't, some people are homeless. Perhaps he should be thankful that he has a home? This same person is an openly gay, and very flamboyant, male. I have nothing against gays and I am not saying anything bad about them. I am aware that gays do still face ridicule and criticism from some in this country (the U.S.) However, there are some countries where gays can be, and often are, legally put to death, often brutally, just for being gay. Perhaps he should be thankful that he lives in a country where he can be himself without fear of brutal execution? This person is not the easiest person to get along with. He tends to be selfish, anal and quite demanding. Even he will admit these things about himself. In spite of this he has a very loving significant other. On top of his anal, selfish and demanding ways, this person, who I have been talking about, put his current significant other through the ringer for the first 9 years of their relationship as he battled with various drug addictions and whatnot. Through it all, his partner has stayed with him and continued to love him no matter what. Perhaps this person could be thankful that he has such a devoted and loving partner? But no. According to him, he has nothing to do be thankful for. It urks me to hear him say that. It urks me whenever anyone takes such important things for granted. To anyone who is feeling sorry for themselves and complaining that they have nothing to be thankful for, I wonder: Do you have a home? If so, be thankful for that! Do you have food in your belly every day? If so, be thankful! If there are people in your life who love you, be thankful for them! While we're at it, why not be thankful for a beautiful day? How about good health? What about your freedom, are you grateful for that? Before you say you have nothing to be thankful for, think about it, really think! (rant)