Being Thankful this Thanksgiving

Whenever the holiday season comes around, annual traditions and Thanksgiving activities seem to explode. There are family events centered around each special occasion, and Thanksgiving is no exception. However, even though this celebration is so common for American households and we grow up anticipating the turkey, amazing sides (not to mention desserts!), the food coma, and football naps, a lot of us might scratch our heads at the origin story of this beloved holiday.

Thanksgiving is commonly known as a way to commemorate the colonial Pilgrims’ harvest meal that they shared with Wampanoag Indians (who “were key to the survival of the colonists during the first year they arrived in 1620”) in 1621. As years went on, designating feasts dedicated to giving thanks on an annual or occasional basis became common practice in other New England settlements as well.

Thanksgiving is all about reflecting on blessings and acknowledging gratitude. After all, in President George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation, he stated about its purpose: “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’”

Thanksgiving has evolved over the years as an important holiday. It is not just about feasting and merrymaking. The tradition of Thanksgiving dinner teaches us to appreciate the finer things in life. It is about showing one's gratitude for the blessings that we are showered with. In all the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Thanksgiving, take a moment to focus on what being thankful is all about.

Being thankful for what we already have is probably the most powerful tool of positive thinking. The ability to notice what we already have and to consider ourselves blessed with it truly unlocks the door to abundance and to feeling good.

As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving in the US, may we vow to live not just this day but every day with a grateful heart and to use our blessings to bless others.