Several years ago, while I was still married, my husband-at-the-time and I broke tradition. We opted out of being a part of any pressure to spend all day driving just to see the various families that divorce on all sides was producing and instead shared a beautiful Thanksgiving meal among friends. We called it the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. It was an easy day in a glorious Victorian home that I shall never forget. I am truly thankful for our decision and to this day it was the best Thanksgiving I have ever had.
There were probably 20 of us or so strayed from our families that year seated around a long rectangular table sharing the abundance that we all provided; when it occurred to me that Thanksgiving is not simply about gorging on an endless supply of food and watching football. We call the holiday “Thanks-Giving”, yet do we actually give or even feel thanks for anything? As this thought circumnavigated its way through my mind, I suggested to the group that we each share whatever we were grateful for.
Some gave thanks for the meal, some for their jobs, some for loved ones. I was married in that year and was grateful for my husband. We each had our stories and I thought that this was what Thanksgiving was really about. The following year and every year since, I have implemented this tradition with my own family and at the dinner table we all take turns at least on this one day giving gratitude for all the blessings we have received in during the year.
Two years ago, my feelings about what I was grateful started to shift. I conveyed that I was grateful for the seemingly small things like a tree’s leaves blowing in the wind or a butterfly flying by. One family member was worried that I was depressed because I wasn’t grateful over material items as they were. I was truly fascinated that being awed by nature would stir up such a commotion in my family and I realized in that moment that we take so much for granted every day.
Yes, we might be grateful for the iPhone we just bought, but are we grateful to all the people that helped to create it and get it on the shelves for us to buy? We live our lives in such a rush that we don’t see what’s going on around us. We are grateful for a beautiful day outside, but do we take the opportunity to bask in the wonders of nature? Do we marvel at the turkey vultures as they glide above in the sky? Are we inspired by the beauty of each colorful rose petal we see? Do we notice a dragonfly frolicking its way through the air? Are we grateful that the few bees we have left pollinate the Earth’s plant life, which not only beautify the planet, but help keep us all alive? Are we grateful for the turkey that gave its life for this precious meal and for all the beings that help give us every meal; from the plants and animals, to the farmers and ranchers, to the packagers and delivery people and finally to the grocery store workers who display it and sell it to us. What about being thankful to our employers that gave us a paycheck so we could buy each meal? So much in our lives go unnoticed.
Just yesterday, I planned to take the train to meet some friends in the city. I took the 15 minute walk to the station only to notice it was closed. So, I would have to take another 15 minutes to walk back and get my car. In the first few moments I was angry, but I quickly decided to give thanks for the exercise instead. The Universe wanted me to drive and as I was doing so, it occurred to me that there was reason for that. Maybe if I took public transportation that night something bad would have happened, or maybe I would have been stuck in the rain, or maybe I just needed to get home at a decent hour. The Universe always has its reasons even if we are not privy to them. I knew that I would never know the reason, but I was thankful nonetheless.
On this Thanksgiving Day I offer my thanks to the Universe for the following:
I am grateful to my reiki master for teaching me the wonders of reiki.
I am grateful to the universal life force for giving me an ever increasing amount of clarity each day.
I am grateful I am friends with my ex-husband.
I am grateful that every thing and every one is connected in some way even if we don’t see it.
I am grateful for the shamanism classes I have taken.
I am grateful that at the age of 42 I still have my amazingly beautiful grandparents.
I am grateful that my grandmother understands and respects me even when she doesn’t agree with me.
I am grateful for my youngest brother who I have always held deep admiration and I am grateful for his wife and their three adoring children.
I am grateful for the memories with my other brother and the beautiful gifts he left behind before leaving this dimension this year, including his two beautiful children.
I am grateful that my parents helped me out this year by allowing me to stay with them for six months.
I am grateful that I found the strength to leave my parent’s house even though I am not yet financially solvent.
I am grateful that I found my voice and told my father everything I was feeling.
I am grateful that I am taking a chance to fulfill my lifelong dream by purchasing a one-way ticket to Paris.
I am grateful to every tree, especially the majestic oak I would see on my daily walks, which always inspired me to own my own innate power.
I am grateful for the statue of Mother Mary I would see on the same walks that gave me hope for a great miracle in my life.
I am grateful to my oracle cards.
I am grateful to my brother’s dog, Roxy, who helped me through the most challenging period in my life.
I am grateful to DK whom after eight months of not speaking with one another decided to read and respond to my email and then followed through by making plans to have our own version of Thanksgiving last night…Italian style.
I am grateful to all those in my life that have been my teacher in some way. We may have served our purpose with each other and no longer see one another, but I do think of you all often.
I am grateful to Allison who holds space with me each week to share reiki with our community.
I am grateful to Halina for opening her home to me for the last few weeks that I am in this country. I am grateful that I am able to repay her by trading my organizational skills.
I am grateful to Sylvette who has offered her home to me in France for trade, as well.
I am grateful that I am able to think outside of the box and make all this happen in my life.
I am grateful to all beings who help to create any item I have and that I eat.
I am grateful to Alan for not only building and maintaining my website, but for his wisdom and friendship.
I am grateful to Stacey for opening the doors of her professional studio to me to hold classes.
I am grateful to all the authors of books that I have loved.
I am grateful for all the walks I have taken and give thanks for my deep appreciation of the abundance in nature.
I am grateful I have a warm place to sleep.
I am grateful for the moon, the sun, the rain…and umbrellas!
These are only a few things I am grateful for. I encourage you to recognize all the wonders in your life and express gratitude. Thanksgiving is not merely about an elaborate dinner. It is a symbol for the gratitude we should honor and celebrate with each moment of our lives.
I thank you for reading and Namaste! (The Light in me recognizes the Light in you!)
There were probably 20 of us or so strayed from our families that year seated around a long rectangular table sharing the abundance that we all provided; when it occurred to me that Thanksgiving is not simply about gorging on an endless supply of food and watching football. We call the holiday “Thanks-Giving”, yet do we actually give or even feel thanks for anything? As this thought circumnavigated its way through my mind, I suggested to the group that we each share whatever we were grateful for.
Some gave thanks for the meal, some for their jobs, some for loved ones. I was married in that year and was grateful for my husband. We each had our stories and I thought that this was what Thanksgiving was really about. The following year and every year since, I have implemented this tradition with my own family and at the dinner table we all take turns at least on this one day giving gratitude for all the blessings we have received in during the year.
Two years ago, my feelings about what I was grateful started to shift. I conveyed that I was grateful for the seemingly small things like a tree’s leaves blowing in the wind or a butterfly flying by. One family member was worried that I was depressed because I wasn’t grateful over material items as they were. I was truly fascinated that being awed by nature would stir up such a commotion in my family and I realized in that moment that we take so much for granted every day.
Yes, we might be grateful for the iPhone we just bought, but are we grateful to all the people that helped to create it and get it on the shelves for us to buy? We live our lives in such a rush that we don’t see what’s going on around us. We are grateful for a beautiful day outside, but do we take the opportunity to bask in the wonders of nature? Do we marvel at the turkey vultures as they glide above in the sky? Are we inspired by the beauty of each colorful rose petal we see? Do we notice a dragonfly frolicking its way through the air? Are we grateful that the few bees we have left pollinate the Earth’s plant life, which not only beautify the planet, but help keep us all alive? Are we grateful for the turkey that gave its life for this precious meal and for all the beings that help give us every meal; from the plants and animals, to the farmers and ranchers, to the packagers and delivery people and finally to the grocery store workers who display it and sell it to us. What about being thankful to our employers that gave us a paycheck so we could buy each meal? So much in our lives go unnoticed.
Just yesterday, I planned to take the train to meet some friends in the city. I took the 15 minute walk to the station only to notice it was closed. So, I would have to take another 15 minutes to walk back and get my car. In the first few moments I was angry, but I quickly decided to give thanks for the exercise instead. The Universe wanted me to drive and as I was doing so, it occurred to me that there was reason for that. Maybe if I took public transportation that night something bad would have happened, or maybe I would have been stuck in the rain, or maybe I just needed to get home at a decent hour. The Universe always has its reasons even if we are not privy to them. I knew that I would never know the reason, but I was thankful nonetheless.
On this Thanksgiving Day I offer my thanks to the Universe for the following:
I am grateful to my reiki master for teaching me the wonders of reiki.
I am grateful to the universal life force for giving me an ever increasing amount of clarity each day.
I am grateful I am friends with my ex-husband.
I am grateful that every thing and every one is connected in some way even if we don’t see it.
I am grateful for the shamanism classes I have taken.
I am grateful that at the age of 42 I still have my amazingly beautiful grandparents.
I am grateful that my grandmother understands and respects me even when she doesn’t agree with me.
I am grateful for my youngest brother who I have always held deep admiration and I am grateful for his wife and their three adoring children.
I am grateful for the memories with my other brother and the beautiful gifts he left behind before leaving this dimension this year, including his two beautiful children.
I am grateful that my parents helped me out this year by allowing me to stay with them for six months.
I am grateful that I found the strength to leave my parent’s house even though I am not yet financially solvent.
I am grateful that I found my voice and told my father everything I was feeling.
I am grateful that I am taking a chance to fulfill my lifelong dream by purchasing a one-way ticket to Paris.
I am grateful to every tree, especially the majestic oak I would see on my daily walks, which always inspired me to own my own innate power.
I am grateful for the statue of Mother Mary I would see on the same walks that gave me hope for a great miracle in my life.
I am grateful to my oracle cards.
I am grateful to my brother’s dog, Roxy, who helped me through the most challenging period in my life.
I am grateful to DK whom after eight months of not speaking with one another decided to read and respond to my email and then followed through by making plans to have our own version of Thanksgiving last night…Italian style.
I am grateful to all those in my life that have been my teacher in some way. We may have served our purpose with each other and no longer see one another, but I do think of you all often.
I am grateful to Allison who holds space with me each week to share reiki with our community.
I am grateful to Halina for opening her home to me for the last few weeks that I am in this country. I am grateful that I am able to repay her by trading my organizational skills.
I am grateful to Sylvette who has offered her home to me in France for trade, as well.
I am grateful that I am able to think outside of the box and make all this happen in my life.
I am grateful to all beings who help to create any item I have and that I eat.
I am grateful to Alan for not only building and maintaining my website, but for his wisdom and friendship.
I am grateful to Stacey for opening the doors of her professional studio to me to hold classes.
I am grateful to all the authors of books that I have loved.
I am grateful for all the walks I have taken and give thanks for my deep appreciation of the abundance in nature.
I am grateful I have a warm place to sleep.
I am grateful for the moon, the sun, the rain…and umbrellas!
These are only a few things I am grateful for. I encourage you to recognize all the wonders in your life and express gratitude. Thanksgiving is not merely about an elaborate dinner. It is a symbol for the gratitude we should honor and celebrate with each moment of our lives.
I thank you for reading and Namaste! (The Light in me recognizes the Light in you!)
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