It’s so easy to wax on in a trail of cliches on Thanksgiving. It’s the one day we are supposed stop and purposefully acknowledge gratitude. It’s the one day that historically has not been bastardized by commercialization and consumerism. Until now. I am fighting this fiercely and refuse to shop on Thanksgiving, not even online. Heck, I don’t even like Black Friday. At five feet tall, I am pretty much at armpit level to everyone else so I really don’t like a crowd. I’ll be home noshing on leftovers while all the crazies shop.
All month friends on Facebook have been sharing an ounce of gratitude a day. It’s a fine gesture, and friends shared some unexpected and lovely nuggets of thanks. But on days like today I can’t help but think why we don’t think about our gratitude everyday. In our family we hold hands before dinner and say something we are thankful for each day. This small gesture grounds us momentarily and allows us to reflect on each day with a different lens.
I shan’t bore you with the details of what I am grateful for today. I am blessed. I don’t use that word lightly. I have much to be thankful for. This goes without saying. While I fall into the abyss of consumerism myself and regularly drool over boots and bags, I do stop to acknowledge how lucky I am. And I as I relish every morsel of goodness today, I will think about what I can do help:
Feed to 70 children in my son’s school over winter break through our school food drive
Fill those kids’ bellies over the weekends during the school year through Backpack Buddies
Nourish families facing food insecurity by donating to the food bank
Heal families and children who are torn and worn by abuse
Let’s all do our little part to be kind, generous, gracious, and thankful everyday. In aggregate, every little bit helps.
Now I’m off to eat some pie, drink some winter sangria (recipe coming tomorrow to 5:00 Fridays!), and bask in the company of my family and friends today.
Happy Thanksgiving!