When I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner next week at a food-laden table surrounded by family, I will be giving an extra helping of thanks. A few days ago I was taught once again how much I have, as well as how many truly courageous people walk among us.

Twenty years ago this month, the dreadful war in Bosnia began. For most Americans, including me, it was a misunderstood and now forgotten war. Why bring up war at the beginning of this festive season? Bear with me and allow me to share a little history.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the former Yugoslavia found itself embroiled in conflicts that grew from its diverse and multi-ethnic population. Serbian, Muslim and Croatian leaders jockeyed for position and power. The net result was an ugly conflict that lasted three and a half years, took the lives of 200,000 people and displaced 2.2 million more. An untold number endured atrocities not seen since Hitler's regime.

Fast forward now to a fundraiser I attended last week. Seated at our table was Dijana (a woman about my age) and her two grown sons, who had escaped the nightmare in Bosnia in 1993. Dijana described her terror to me as if it had all unfolded yesterday. The hunger, the filth, the death, and the fear that she wouldn't be able to protect her children.

Not only was she able to bring her own children to safety, but brought along two little girls she had never met before. Their mother was unable to leave - and neither the girls nor Dijana ever heard from her again. The courage of both these mothers made me catch my breath.

So while we're enjoying love, bounty and safety this Thanksgiving, I suggest we also do three other things:

1. Thank the higher power in our lives for all that we have.
2. Make an early New Years resolution to learn more about the greater world in 2013.
3. Learn from the courage of others and use it to make our world better.

Live courageously,