In the United States people celebrate a holiday of Thanksgiving in November. Thanksgiving, a time of giving thanks with a celebration of families and friends gathering together to feast on turkey or ham and a time to be thankful. The holiday is said to have begun with the first harvest of the Pilgrims in the “New Land”. The celebration after a harvest is not new to the Pilgrims or the “New Land”. Many cultures celebrated the conclusion of fall harvest with a feast being thankful for the crops that will provide the yearly food until next fall. Being a farmer for most of my life, I have always been thankful when the harvest is completed.
For several years I practiced writing or saying something I was thankful for each day of the month of November. Being aware to be thankful for those in our lives and the good events during the year condensed into one month, November. As years brings wisdom, in recent years, I make a point to be thankful for something or someone each day.
During the hard times or times of struggle it is easy for us to focus on the problem. I would focus on the problem or struggle and loose sight of what was good around me. My mind going into a downward spiral of depression. I have realized that we need to be mindful of the problems or struggles in our life at the time, but not have our total focus on those things. It is important to see and focus on what is good in our life during those times as well.
Giving thanks daily helps me to realize the good that is happening in my life and around me. Yes, there are struggles, there are unlikable situations, but there is also the good, the beautiful. To keep my mind from the downward spiral, I focus on what is good, what is beautiful and know that the sun will come up tomorrow shedding light on a new day and a new possibility.
Wishing everyone a time of thanksgiving happiness. Thank you to all those who stop and read my posts, follow my writing during the year. Thank you to those who leave comments and likes. I may be busy and not read or respond as quickly as I would like to, but I do read each one.
Thank you.
amtolle
Me, Myself and I 