Make good use of Thanksgiving 'rest stop'
Gratitude, appreciation and thanks seem buried in a landfill of an ill-tempered and oppositional funk that many agree has descended on our great country. But, just in time, here comes Thanksgiving Day. It is a rest stop where we can pull off the highway of daily tasks and set aside the deluge of sensory input that begs sorting out. On that day we can suspend judgment about the worthiness of the social media messages we receive and slow our immediate reactions to the endless array of priorities that call for our attention. Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to set aside antipathy, opposition, animosity and other forms of ill will and hostility and create a more grateful, appreciative and thankful demeanor.
Thanksgiving is one-size-fits-all. It can be religious or secular, whatever you choose. It can be American traditional or multi-cultural adaptable. It is free from the distractions of gift giving and holiday decorating. It doesn't matter how you celebrate it. Rather, it urges you to grasp the notion that reflection will lead us to the conclusion that the condition of our life is a result of our own efforts, the support and guidance of our fellow earthly travelers and the favorable conditions provided by the universe; all deserving of our recognition and thanks.
Beyond reflection, Thanksgiving is a call to action. As we examine the landscape of our life and identify what is truly important, we find an opportunity to move relationships, intentions and aspirations that have been obscured in the background into the prominence of the foreground. We are often led to thanks by something dramatic. We survive an accident or health crisis. A position we have sought comes our way. A healthy child is born. Thanksgiving reminds us to give equal attention to the micro-blessings that occur each day as we do to perceived micro-aggressions. Count your blessings as you celebrate Thanksgiving and temper your feelings of entitlement with gratitude. Repeat daily.
Ronald Bearwald
Northbrook