Greetings, Sunny Optimists,
I would love to start by connecting with the spirit of Thanksgiving today. While this is not something we observe in Scotland, I so appreciate my American friends' joy at their anticipation of this celebration. It is all about family and being with people they are grateful for in their lives. It is about preparing a feast and savouring it. Then relaxing together in that happy post-prandial torpor that we all know and love.
The image above made me smile. It captures a sense of festivity and the many blessings that come from taking time to celebrate. I love that the family, friends, and children each share what they are thankful for during the meal. That they listen to and honour each other's words feels very special.
I often wonder about the American culture, which is a melting pot for many different lineages. So many ancestral legacies are woven into the blanket of the complexity of what it is to be American. I appreciate that this celebration of Thanksgiving has a unique dedication to and flavour of the essence of America and its people. In these times, coming together and reaffirming family bonds feels beautiful and essential.
This video below came into my email box this morning, and it feels right to share it with you. The film begins with an elder writing on gift tags aspects of her life that she holds with gratitude. Then at the end, we see her hanging them on a tree. The serenity that she emanated whilst she was doing this touched me deeply.
Within the film, I appreciate the faces of the children, the beauty of the natural world, the joy of relationships, the creative gifts of the singers and musicians and…. and…. and...... I wonder what you might appreciate about it, too.
I hope you enjoy listening to it and that it gives you a more profound sense of gratitude. Click here or on the image to listen.
What does it mean to be grateful?
I came across these words below today from a website called Mindful by Elaine Smookler. I love the simplicity and wisdom that Elaine offers. The sentiments feel right for moving towards my questions for today.
‘What does it mean to be grateful? Thankfully, it doesn’t mean convincing yourself of some bogus notion that everything’s fine and dandy. Living your life with gratitude means choosing to focus your time and attention on what you appreciate. The goal is not to block out difficulties, but to approach those difficulties from a different perspective. Appreciation softens us. It soothes our turbulent minds by connecting us with the wonderfully ordinary things, great and small, that we might otherwise take for granted.’
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I invite you to take a moment to appreciate the people and communities you love. Think about your heritage, your traditions, and your lineage. Consider the Earth and her bountifulness. Think about all that you are and have at this time in your life.
What are the ‘wonderful ordinary things’ you are grateful for?
Who comes to mind as you consider your family lineage?
How might you honour them today as your Thanksgiving?
As I always say, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Ann
This is beautiful Ann. So uplifting and poignant. Thanks for appreciating a day that is important in our culture. Blessings to you and your family. With love, Healinghands