Since its earliest days, America has celebrated a day of thanksgiving even in our darkest hours — during war, economic austerity, political unrest, natural catastrophes.

This year is no different.

Today, on Thanksgiving Day, we set aside the gloomy headlines and count our blessings. We celebrate our 'ohana, our health, our lovely Island home, our boundless capacity for warmth and generosity.

We consider not what we want or need, but what we have. We find the silver lining.

So let's give thanks, for blessings great and small.

For the simple pleasures of life, like a quiet walk on the beach, an unexpected helping hand, a smile from a passer-by.

For the welcome pleasure of good news: a UH football victory, an El Niño year without a hurricane, a new saint for Hawai'i.

For hopes fulfilled with the safe return of our troops from the field of battle.

Perhaps most important of all, it's a day to thank those who devote their time and treasure to help others in need.

These modern saints persevere in their mission to care for the poor, homeless, hungry and sick, even though it's much harder to do these days — demand is up, resources are scarce — and often they have little to give themselves. Nonetheless, they do their best. And who are they? To paraphrase the cartoon sage Pogo: "They is us."

On this holiday, before we plunge into Black Friday, it's good to remember that a rewarding way to give thanks for our good fortune is to share it with others — however and whenever we can.

Here's one way: The Advertiser's Christmas Fund. For more than 80 years, we've given thanks for the unbounded generosity of our readers in supporting this effort to help Hawai'i's less fortunate.

This year is no different.

Happy Thanksgiving!