As October 31 passes and the spookiness of Halloween comes to an end, people are left with a new month and new holidays. And as November moves in, stores jump from Halloween costumes and candies to December’s holiday decorations along with all sorts of present-buying commercialism. Even radio stations start their festive winter song plays. However, there is something in the middle of this switch-up that should not be rushed by: Thanksgiving.
With all the hustle and bustle of the winter holiday season, Thanksgiving sometimes gets overlooked. But you don’t have to rely on store shelves to remind you of what you hold near and dear. So, I would like to take a moment to encourage everyone to highlight the meaning of Thanksgiving in their own way throughout the entire month of November without being overtaken by December’s holiday rush. Thanksgiving offers a space for people to step aside from the busyness of life and share quality time (and even joy) with the people and things we hold dear. Maybe your gratitude is finding joy snuggling up with a cozy book at the end of a long day; maybe it’s going to a fun bingo game with friends; maybe it’s watching the colorful hues of sunset or listening to the crisp crunch of autumn leaves underfoot. We all have a list to share. Pausing, we can recognize just how important our relationships are around us and just how thankful we are for them. And sometimes we discover it’s the small things in life that bring a sense of happiness and joy — feelings we definitely shouldn’t overlook.
Such thankfulness doesn’t have to be limited to just Thanksgiving Day. We can carry this attitude with us throughout the year, every month and every day. Simply take a minute or two each day to consciously and thoughtfully recognize all we hold in gratitude. There is always good to see and good to share. For my part, I am going to try and remember to do a gratitude list throughout this month of November to grow a heart of abundance. I invite you to do the same.
Let us spread Thanksgiving cheer for all to feel.