Thanksgiving is a day to share a meal with family and friends and reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for. With the economy hitting a brick wall, that may seem a tall order this year.

But at least for today, put aside worries about your plummeting portfolio, sinking home values and increasing job insecurity. Even when it comes recession, there are reasons to be thankful. Here are seven things I'm happy about that are occurring now due to the economic slowdown:

Stocks are cheap. We may not have seen the bottom yet (hopefully we have), but this could be the stock buying opportunity you've been waiting for. The trailing price-earnings ratio of stocks in the Standard & Poor's 500 is 11. Don't throw all your investable assets in the market all at once, but start nibbling here and there on strong companies that have been slammed by the economy -- like General Electric (NYSE: GE), Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), Intuitive Surgical, or just a broad index fund -- and hold on for the ride. (For more ideas, see our Stocks To Buy category.)

Gas prices are falling. Last summer, gas prices nationally averaged over $4 a gallon. My mother-in-law was panicked she couldn't afford to stay in her house this winter due to heating oil costs. Now gas is at $1.87 on average nationally and heating oil costs are about 20% lower than last year. Fact is, the price of crude is tied to expectations for economic growth. In recession, demand for crude falls globally and gas and heating oil get cheaper. Then, in a nice virtuous cycle, lower energy prices put more dollars in consumers' pockets and help fuel a bit more spending.