Giving Thanks and Sharing Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving. It is hard to believe we have arrived at the end of November so quickly. In some ways, this year feels like it has flown by, yet in others, it has dragged along. Either way, we are in the cooler months of the year, and a season of giving thanks for what we have.

I have written often about the importance of gratitude and sharing the thanks we have for what we have, who we are connected to, and the lives we lead. This time of year serves as a reminder of its importance. It is not that Thanksgiving or the holiday season in general is the only time we should give thanks. It is merely a reminder of what it can represent. I certainly hope that those around me feel my gratitude year-round.

Thanksgiving is not tied to any one country or culture. Many countries and cultures have versions of what we think of as Thanksgiving. Most occur in similar times of the year, as this celebration of thanks is tied to the bounty of the fall harvest, and the people being thankful for the food they have.

Cultural traditions may be different, and it is not always about turkeys, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, or football, or the beginning of the holiday shopping season — it is about celebrating what we have and those in our lives. It makes this a special celebration that can be shared across geographic and cultural lines, even if not celebrated on the same day. It shows a level of connectedness we all share on this planet, and one that I believe we would be wise to take more notice of.

We can have personal points of view, take on differing religious beliefs, dare I say, have opposing political views, or cultural backgrounds, but we do still share a common world? We all breathe the same air, harvest those crops from the same soil, live within the same ecosystem — we are connected. We should be thankful for that opportunity to experience this world the way we do. And for those of us reading articles like this and having access to the information we do, should also pause and consider the great fortunes we have in the homes, cars, options, and opportunities that surround us. And with many people impacted in different ways from a challenging few years from a global pandemic, increasing costs, geopolitical instability, and changing climate, we must think about how we do more to help one another.

So, for this season of thanks, I would ask that we give thanks for each other and our respective opinions and points of view. Thanks for having the ability to share new and differing ideas and then working together to take action on that. We can give thanks for the ability to choose how we lead our lives and the impact it can have on others, especially in a positive way. We are one connected people sharing life on this round rock floating through space. I am grateful to be able to share all of that with each of you.

I hope you enjoy time with family and friends while sharing great thanks to the many things we have.

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Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash