Each and every one of us is blessed and has multiple things to be thankful for. However, it may not always seem that way. Several of us are focused on what is missing in our lives, what we are lacking or what we want. Far too few of us are present to the things and people we have in our lives at this very moment. We may spend our lives thinking that if we find that perfect relationship or make that certain amount of money we will be happy.
True happiness comes from focusing on what you do have, not what you don’t. True happiness comes from accepting and appreciating yourself for every way that you are and every way that you’re not. We spend too much time comparing ourselves and our success to others peoples’. We are too preoccupied to even realize that people are comparing themselves to us. There is nothing wrong with having these thought patterns, they are very human and we all have them. Each one of us has a unique talent, ability or personality and sometimes we don’t even realize it. One of the best quotes I ever heard was,” Your problem is your prophecy.” Basically it is saying that the thing you struggle with or resist the most about yourself is the thing you should be doing with your life. That’s why I am writing.
Finding out the truth about Thanksgiving can be a bit overwhelming. If you investigate or even do a little research on the history or meaning of Thanksgiving, you’ll get a lot of misinformation and conflicting stories and theories. Some historians say the first Thanksgiving didn’t even take place in Plymouth and others say it did. Some say that Pilgrims were missionaries that came here to spread the word of God, while others say the Pilgrims came to America for religious liberty and freedom. Some people say that the celebration was one where The Pilgrims decapitated the Indians and kicked their heads through the streets.
This is a far cry from the peaceful picture of Pilgrims and Indians sitting at a table with a harvest feast that we all grew up believing. Any way you look at it what we have been taught in school is not really the most reliable information and you must do the research for yourself and come to your own conclusion. I have mine and if you’re interested I’d suggest doing some research and formulating your own opinions.
With all that being said, modern day Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time to slow down, reflect and spend time with family and friends that you may not see that often throughout the year. It is a time of year when people’s generosity and warmth seems to overflow. Sometimes the meaning of this holiday really gets lost in the food, shopping, parades, and football.
For a moment, think of all the people you have in your life. Some of us have hundreds while others may only have one or two. Think about what each of them brings to your life and what your life would be like if they were not there. A practice I take on when I get annoyed or frustrated with people is thinking about what my life would be like if they were not in it. That usually snaps me back to reality. I try to operate with unconditional love, compassion and acceptance. Of course I am human, so I’m not a master of this, but it is my intention that matters.
This is a time to reflect on what we have – first and foremost.
Whether you’re religious or not prayer is a very powerful thing. All prayer is about intention. It is the intent that carries the request to the universe (or God). Even if you don’t believe in God, if you intend for change, it will happen because you put the effort to make it happen. To prepare the heart – In gratitude, we humbly reflect upon all the gifts (family, friends, health) that saturate our lives. By “giving-thanks” we choose to extend ourselves and give to others less fortunate. Out of the abundance of our hearts, we are able to offer our resources to help others.