In the U.S. yesterday Thanksgiving was celebrated.
Most people paused the routines of regular life to reflect on their good fortunes, to express appreciation and show gratitude, and generally, to give thanks.
Now what?
For most, it’s back to routines. Or, for others, it’s on to Black Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season, with all of it’s sad absurdities.
We can compartmentalize Thanksgiving as a moment in time. A day. A respite. A recess. A brief intermission before heading back into life, complete with its frustrations, concerns, anxieties, and folly.
Or, we can use the day of Thanksgiving as the first purposeful step of a daily, lifelong journey – a commitment to interact with our world and those around us with more empathy, compassion, and kindness. To live life with more authentic thanksgiving.
Far better to “do” thankful, than simply to “be” thankful.