Over 390 years ago when the pilgrims and native Americans had the first Thanksgiving celebration they couldn’t have imagined we’d still be continuing the event today.
They came together to give thanks for the autumn harvest. Even though the holiday also has a focus on food, football and holiday shopping millions of Americans still come together and give thanks for the blessings in their lives.
The first celebrants might not recognize the foods and other traditions of Thanksgiving today but I think they’d be perfectly at home that last part.
Gratitude for Family
My husband and I are grateful for our good health, my job and our home. But that’s one blessing that trumps all. It is family.
I took family for granted until I lost my father 12 years ago. Then my husband lost his mom the following year. Time with family became very important to us.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve lost our remaining parents along with other family members and friends and we treasure our memories of them.
What Really Matters
Those losses have changed us. These two type-A personalities have been mellowed by life’s blow.
We no longer get all bent out of shape when things don’t go as planned. My husband says “at least no one got hurt” and I add “that’s what really matters”.
I wish we had learned this long ago, but am grateful we learned. Thursday I’ll be giving thanks for that wisdom along with the people I love. What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I am grateful that I have a lot of time to read. I’m teaching an online class on aging and maintaining my blog. I’m “on call” if the kids need me to support them (they are teens). But if things are calm, I can read. I alternate between books on aging and books on everything else. I just finished “Being Mortal” and “Dear Committee Members.” They were both great!
I am sorry about the loss of your father. Hugs to you and your family this Thanksgiving season.
Great post! I have also lost a lot of people that I loved over the last few years. It’s a hard thing to have to deal with. So glad you can find the silver in the lining!
You are so right. It is the simple things that really matter. My family means more and more to me and I see my the generation above me age and the one below me leave the nest to start their own life. I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings. Hug everyone real close, I know I will.
This is so true. The older I become the more grateful I am for the little blessings that I so often overlooked in the past.
Isn’t it true that as time goes by we learn more and more what really makes life important? And I so agree that things that I used to be fussy about no longer matter nearly as much. We do indeed have much to be grateful for. Thanks for the reminders!
I am grateful to have a wonderful friend who is energetic, positive, and a great writer – thank you so much for your friendship and many kindnesses, Kay Lynn!
I’m grateful to have a loving, supportive network of friends & family, and to be surrounded by people who know “what really matters,” as you put it. Have a great holiday!
The most important thing the darker events of life can teach us is gratitude and looking for that silver lining when it all hits the fan. “but did you break your back” is now the litmus test for bad news.