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“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” –Meister Eckhart

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the 4th Thursday of November.  It’s traditionally a time when family and friend’s get together and give thanks and enjoy a big feast of turkey, potatoes, pumpkin, cranberries, corn, and various other foods. Thanksgiving had it’s beginning when settlers from England (pilgrims) had a big feast with Native Americans that welcomed them and helped them survive by teaching the Europeans how to grow native crops and live off the land.  Nowadays it seems like many people spend Thanksgiving watching special t.v. programs and overeating. However there are others that embrace the idea of gratitude and giving by reflecting on all that they are grateful for. And there are also people that spend the day volunteering and feeding others that have little money or family for support.

Giving thanks is too important to be celebrated once a year.  Being thankful should be practiced everyday. Practicing gratitude makes you happy. Here are some reasons why:

Being thankful reminds you how lucky you are Most people in the world do not even have clean water to drink, or enough food to eat, or shelter, or freedom. We enjoy all of these things, but often forget how lucky we are compared to most people. Being thankful reminds us not to take all of these necessary things we have for granted

I sometimes like to sit down (or sometimes even lie down) first thing in the morning and right before I go to bed and mentally give thanks for all the things I have in my life.  Usually I start with the basics, the things we take for granted. Thank you for this life. Thank you for clean water to drink, and cook, and wash with. Thank you for clean air to breathe. Thank you for my warm bed and house to live in.  Thank you for the food I have. Thank you for my health and the health of my family and friend’s. Thank you to my teachers and thank you to my students.  Thank you for the peace and freedom I enjoy in this country. Thank you for the work I have. Thank you for all the people in my life that have helped me and my family and friends. Thank you for the nature that is all around me, the ocean, rivers, and mountains………and so forth, often thanking specific people, or for certain experiences and opportunities. Sometimes it takes me more than 5 minutes, sometimes less than one.  I don’t always remember to give thanks,  but when I do it always makes me feel better. It’s a great way to start and end the day. It’s also a wonderful practice to do with children. My daughter often is thankful for ice cream, her dresses, and her uncle’s dog chubby.  It’s easy, cheap, takes little time, and it works. Try it!

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~