Holidays serve two functions in society. The first, and perhaps most important function, is that they give people a break from their daily lives. The second is the reason for the holiday usually holds significance for a large part, if not all, of society and people want to celebrate or honor whatever the reason might be. Well, I am certain that folks in the U.S. like Thanksgiving because it always falls on a Thursday, which usually means many folks get the day of and the Friday after off from work. Now, that rolls right into the weekend, so voila, four days in a row to relax, watch football, hang out with the family, see friends, and put on a few pounds from all the rich food and candies beginning to press into our lives at this time of the year. Oh, and if you are lucky, you can finagle Wednesday off because you have to travel to be with family the next day. So, despite the claims that traveling and getting together with family can be exhausting, I suggest folks still see the holiday as a break from their everyday lives.
This brings me to the second reason for holidays – something to celebrate or honor. Thanksgiving is uniquely American, but the concept of a day for giving thanks is widespread to every culture in the world. Being thankful is a good thing. It demonstrates our willingness to see outside of ourselves, to acknowledge forces at work beyond what we know, and the very concept itself implies that another, or others, contribute to the good things we have in life, and, perhaps, are the reason for those good things. Thus, being thankful takes us past ourselves to a place where we see others and “things” in a different and more generous light.
These are tough days for many in the world. The clouds of economic uncertainty cast long and dark shadows that spread almost everywhere, at least throughout the lower spheres. For many, it might seem a difficult task to thank someone, anyone, for their excessive trials and tribulations.
I understand this, and I would not suggest that because it is a holiday, all the bad stuff goes away, or that you should thank anyone for your lack. No, in fact, I would ask all others, those who do have things for which to be thankful, to reach out with their hearts to those who struggle just to find something, anything, even if it is a crumb, for which to be thankful.
In this spirit, I wish all who celebrate Thanksgiving a good day, two days, three days, or four. For that matter, I wish a good life to all, no matter the day. I would also ask that you keep in mind the essence of the Thanksgiving holiday. It derives from the American settlers who came here with little, and who suffered greatly their first years here. These folks created the day to thank their someone for whatever bounty they had, for whatever improvements they enjoyed in their harsh lives. They were thankful for winter stores of food. They were thankful the local natives chose to help them, not kill them; they were thankful to be alive in a strange land so far away from home, and they were thankful they had each other, others who understood and supported their reasons for a new life.
Yes, they had each other, and I suggest to all of you, no matter your current status in life, look around you carefully. My guess is that you are not alone. My guess is people care about you and they willingly and happily fill the voids that otherwise might make you think you are alone. Be thankful for that tomorrow and every day of your life. People caring about people is a good reason for giving thanks, and so, do it.
Happy Thanksgiving …
Trade in the day; invest in your life …
