So why do we need a specific day to give thanks?
This year I won't be celebrating Thanksgiving in the traditional sense. My kids will be at their dads, my partners kids will be out of town with their mom, my parents live in Quesnel, and my partners mom will be just stepping off a plane from Germany and will likely just want to go home. This leaves my partner my self and his dad. Not that that's bad or anything, just, is it worth it to do all that cooking just for the three of us? Considering I'm the one having to cook, well I vote for "no it's not worth it". So what to do instead?
Traditionally Thanksgiving is a celebration of the end of the growing season when family and friends gather to give thanks for all they have reaped. Well, now days, we have so much we should be giving thanks at every turn. I try to express my gratitude on a daily basis, I'm thankful for my health, for the roof over my head, for the food in my cupboards and for all those in my life, and yes I'm grateful I have a job to go to every day in order to be able to have all that I am grateful for. So what about those of you who also have all these things yet only give thanks on one day of the year? Do you think that redeems you for being ungrateful every other day of the year? I hope so, because, there are far too many people out there who would be grateful for even a fraction of what you have.
This Thanksgiving I will get up in the morning and be just as grateful as I was the day before, and I will carry on as if it were any other day. When thanksgiving happens everyday you don't need to stress yourself out trying to impress the in-laws, or the way too fussy aunt, or the cousins you will never measure up to because your parents have spent your entire life comparing you to them (this is not a reflection of my family, it's hypothetical). You can kick back, relax with a nice Merlot, maybe some take-out from your favourite Greek restaurant and just enjoy all that you are grateful for, and work on manifesting more "stuff" to be grateful for.
I do enjoy family gatherings, they can be great fun, as long as you get along with your family. Christmas is a great example of this, and for me it lasts longer than just one day, with all the merriment of the holiday it usually extends two to three days at the least. Christmas is when I strap on the apron and put on a huge spread, and enjoy every minute of it. That for me is the best reason to stress out, and it's all worth it. Thanksgiving is a more personal experience, it is were you give your thanks, why put on show for it? I guess if I had a houseful of kids and extended family I would be obligated to do something, but this year that's not the case and I'm very relieved about this.
Last year I tried to get away with not doing anything, but admittedly it felt weird and I ended up running out and getting a Turkey. We did have all the kids, and I think for them it's important. Even though I am an advocate for teaching we should be thankful every day, they need the occasion to be special, I get that. It's funny I had a conversation with my mom about it and told her my plans and she said, "ya, we never put as much importance on Thanksgiving like we do Christmas". After thinking back she's right, we would either have dinner at our house, my grandparents or my aunt and uncles, but it was always low key. My ex-in-laws make a big deal out of Thanksgiving and all holidays for that matter, I think more as an excuse to get their family together. Now that's strained because of unfortunate circumstances, that likely will not resolve themselves. (not my battle anymore so I stay out of it) So really what do they give thanks for?
I would like to wish everyone a very happy thanksgiving, because that's what we do this time of year, but really shouldn't we be saying that to each other every day? Of course people will probably look at you funny if you say that in oh say May. Maybe for the sake of seeming normal we should just give thanks quietly every day, and reserve "Thanksgiving Day" for saying it out loud. I like that plan. Your Thanksgiving resolution is to give thanks every day for all you have, and thank yourself too for all the hard work you do to have reasons to be thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving,
With much love and light.
Tammy.
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