Thursday, November 26, 2009

So Much to be Thankful for!

Okay. Yep, I know the past year has been tough for many of you. Believe me, this self-employed writer is feeling the current economic downturn too. But you know what? There is a silver lining to this economy. Perhaps now, we Americans can begin rediscovering just what makes our country so great. And it has little to do with accumulating material objects. It has everything to do with our families, friends, communities, nation, and freedom.

Happiness is not measured by nor gained by consumption. Happiness is attained by strong bonds to family, friends, community and the natural world. Tough economic times? Yep, but we have so much to be thankful for here in America. We're resourceful people who etched out a great nation from wilderness- survived civil war-fought the Nazis and Imperial Japan, and persevered through the Great Depression that lasted for over a decade. We're better off as a people and a nation because of all of these challenges. Sometimes we don't really see our true selves and real nature until a crisis. Look at 9/11. It didn't destroy us. It brought us together. No one can take away our freedom and way of life if we don't take it for granted.

This is a great time to reflect on what is truly important and to be thankful for all that we have. And we as a people and a nation have so much! That's worth celebrating over. We've come a long way since Jamestown and Plymouth were founded in the early 1600s. The colonists then survived great odds. They were thankful for their bounties, the help of others (especially Indigenous people who had little to gain by helping them) and for Providence's divine hand. Amen. Happy Thanksgiving everyone for we have so much here to be thankful for!

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