Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is being celebrated today in the United States. While it is not an occasion that is widely celebrated in New Zealand (aside from ex-pat Americans and their friends), the premise behind it is one which we could all learn from, particularly in such unstable times. Currently there is an abundance of suspicion, mistrust and conflict around the world, and not nearly enough tolerance and open mindedness.

When the pilgrims arrived in the United States, they did it tough. Thanksgiving Day can be traced back to the 1621 celebration at the Plymouth Plantation, where the religious refugees from England known popularly as the Pilgrims invited the local Native Americans to a harvest feast after a particularly successful growing season.

The previous year’s harvests had failed and in the winter of 1620 half of the pilgrims had starved to death. Luckily for the rest, members of the local Wampanoag tribe taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn, beans and squash (the Three Sisters); catch fish, and collect seafood.

The pilgrims were essentially refugees, who undertook an at times perilous journey, in the hope of improving their lives and that of their families. However, a meal and offer of friendship started a tradition that endures several hundred years later.

Thanksgiving is about appreciation and sharing. Part of the celebration usually includes everyone at the table, be they friends, family or invited strangers, taking a moment to identify something they are thankful for and acknowledging it publicly.

So, today, what are you thankful for? What has lifted your spirits, made you smile or enriched your life? It doesn’t have to be Thanksgiving to be appreciative, but whoever you share a meal or moment with today, be thankful. Spread some light and joy and try and understand another’s point of view. A ground-swell of good is just what the world needs.