On Thursday, Americans will pause to count their blessings. My list could go on and on.

• I’m thankful to live in a country where, even in a so-called “down” economy, there is relative prosperity. Though we should never be comfortable with the level of poverty in this nation, even America’s poor — by comparison — are better off than the average family in most nations of the world.

• I’m thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. We are free today to bow our heads in prayer to the Almighty. We are free to work where we want and live where we want. We are free to criticize our government without risk of being thrown into prison. We are free to publish this newspaper without government censorship.

• I’m thankful for medical progress. Although the headlines are often full of warnings about health risks, Americans have never lived as long or as well.

• I’m thankful that the opportunities in this country are still boundless for people who study and work hard — and that ability counts more than anything at school and in the workplace.

• I’m thankful for family and friends, including those who have departed this life but enriched mine while they were here.

• I’m thankful for our customers — you, our readers and our advertisers — without whom this newspaper and our livelihood would cease to exist.

• I’m thankful for Farmville, Prince Edward, Buckingham and Cumberland — and the privilege to call Southside Virginia home. I’m thankful for its people, its heritage and its potential.

As I said, my list could go on and on.

How about yours?

STEVE STEWART is publisher of The Farmville Herald. His email address is steve.stewart@farmvilleherald.com.