Oak Lawn Says Thank You: 30 Days Of Gratitude

OAK LAWN, IL — This November, Patch is celebrating "30 Days of Gratitude," stories about living with gratitude — in simple terms, a deliberate choice to see the goodness and joy in your life and to wish the same for your neighbors.

Living with gratitude is a matter of continually counting one's blessings while at the same time recognizing that the source of goodness in one's life is other people.

Earlier this month, we asked Oak Lawn residents to share who or what they were grateful for. Here's what your neighbors in Oak Lawn had to say:

I am so lucky to have such a beautiful, loving, selfless mother in my life as an adult and always. You are the definition of an irreplaceable, mom. So let me explain. Her unconditional love and care means everything to me. There never goes a day when she doesn’t check on me. My heart can’t thank her enough for giving me that extra push and making me the woman I am today. She would help any person and give anything to them which takes a unique person to do this type of thing. It just comes natural for her; she is a Saint. This woman is never upset and has the biggest caring heart that there is. She helps those she has never met and it’s so lovely to see. Because of her, I have the vision to reach for my dreams and to push through the challenges that are in my way. Thank you Mom for making me so strong, you are my lifeline, my shoulder to cry on, my mentor, my best friend. You are always there for us and letting us know that everything will be okay. I appreciate how you have celebrated by my side the best of times. I am forever thankful and grateful to have you. I love you with everything I have, and more. I could not imagine my life without you always in my corner. Thank you for being my mom. I won the lottery on that one!

~ Maurine C. Cody

I am a 911 dispatcher. I am grateful for my eyes; they give me the ability to read important information the officers need. I am grateful for my voice; it is strong and confident even when I feel anxious or unsure, hoping I'm not sending the officers into a situation that will put them in harm's way. I am grateful for my hands; they allow me the necessary speed to type fast and work quickly when officers need me the most. I am grateful for my ears; they allowed to hear the important information officers tell me, and even though sometimes I hear sad or scary things, my ears help me, so I can take the best course of action. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a 911 dispatcher and work with officers who protect our community. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve my community in a meaningful and impactful way. I'm grateful for an opportunity to ensure an officer's safety to get him home safely to his family. But mostly, I am grateful to have a job, because no matter how grueling the long hours can be and how thankless the job sometimes feels, I am grateful for the ability to wake up every day and work.

~ Michelle Cunningham

I would like to Give Thanx Of Gratitude To 2 People- 1 my Loving , Kind & Caring mother who has been thru with me every up n down , to hold me, cry with me, n laugh with me and taught me not everyone is going to be kind in the world but that I should do my best to be kind to everyone and to be Grateful always, my cousin Christine is the other- I'm Grateful for her for times in my life when things happened she has been a shoulder to cry on , We are not just cousins, but I consider her a Good friend, who is willing to go more than a mile to help someone, someone who always has an open ear to hear, More than Blessed To Have Them In My Life.

~ Joyce Kanadet

Visit Patch's Across America page to see the latest 30 Days of Gratitude stories from around the country.