Trying to be Thankful in 2025

While folks across the country will gather around their holiday tables, I suspect that conversations won't be focused on the First Thanksgiving when the Pilgrims broke bread with the Wampanoag Native Americans over a 3 day feast in 1621. There was no pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce served then, and it was more likely that venison was on the table than turkey. Sometimes, myths are more fun than facts.

The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth

The space for thankfulness has narrowed, but it is still there and we must do our best to seek it out. This task, of course, does not need to be restricted to only one day each year.

It seems more challenging than ever for us to carve away chaos, polarization and discord so that we can focus more clearly on what we should be thankful for.

Yes, there is beauty in the world which we must seek out and celebrate.

Yes, there is kindness and generosity in our midst which we must champion and emulate.

Yes, there is dialogue and open mindedness which we must resurrect and cultivate.

Skimming national and international current events on any day reinforces the reality that the space to find gratitude is smaller that it used to be. But it is there.

I hope that we can all join and dedicate ourselves to making the world better one day at a time, accumulating a series of small acts of kindness. While each individual action may seem insignificant, if enough of us step up, then the world can change. A rainbow is the effect of millions of drops of water.

Try this small step. When you are standing in line to buy coffee, buy a cup for the person behind you. The reaction will be amazing and will brighten the day for both of you. Making the world better, one cup at a time!

Let's hope that finding and celebrating thankfulness will become a little easier in the days to come.

Wishing blessings to all.

A brave turkey on the back deck days before Thanksgiving!

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