This post is an easy one for me since it's about one of my favourite topics — being thankful. Today, in Canada, it is Thanksgiving Sunday. Don't tell the Americans because they get upset about this sort of stuff, but the first Thanksgiving celebrated by Europeans in North America was actually held by Martin Frobisher and his crew way up in the Eastern Canadian Arctic in 1578. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, they 'ate a meal of salt beef, biscuits and mushy peas to celebrate and give thanks for their safe arrival to what is now Nunavut.' Sorry about your luck, Pilgrims...
Anyway, let's just say we've been having a Thanksgiving in some form or another for a very long time. And as much as I love Christmas, I think Thanksgiving is probably my favourite holiday. Why? It's a very no-pressure holiday. There really aren't any expectations of gift giving or receiving, and for some people, that's a big deal. Worrying about gifts, especially if you're short on cash, can cause a tonne of stress and anxiety. I've been there. It's tough, and it can take the wind out of your sails and the joy out of the holiday. And nobody wants that.
Thanksgiving is a universal holiday, meaning it doesn't matter what race or religion you are — we all get to share in the festivities together, and I think in this day and age, that's important. It's a shit show out there and we need all the togetherness we can muster!
Thanksgiving is all about coming together in the spirit of gratitude and thankfulness, and you don't have to believe in any higher power to do that. There are no rules and regulations to this holiday, just a lot of getting together, eating good food, and sharing good times.
Of course, this year with COVID, things are very different. We're under strict household-only gatherings here, so that certainly limits the togetherness — but it doesn't limit the thankfulness. As Canadians, I think we're all pretty thankful for the country we live in. It's not perfect and we have our issues and things we need to work on, but for me, there's nowhere else I'd rather be, especially right now. If you've never seen the autumn colours, you are missing out on some of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see. Truly glorious.
I live a rich and wonderful life. I am blessed beyond belief with all those who walk my journey with me. No, it hasn't always been easy, and I've certainly had some struggles and sorrows, but at the end of the day, I feel so much love and gratitude that I think sometimes my heart will explode. I don't care about material things. Yes, I'm grateful for them, but they are not what motivates me or makes me happy — although my disco lights make me pretty happy and I do enjoy my water fountain.
What motivates me are the feelings in my heart. The feeling I get when I know that I've helped someone, or made their life just a little bit easier or less stressful, even if it's just for that moment. That feeling when I've made someone smile or laugh. That feeling when I hug someone and they hug me back — not some fake-ass hug, but a real hug. You can't buy any of those feelings.
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful that I am healthy. I am thankful that I have a good job that lets me, hopefully, make a difference in this world. I am thankful that I have a solid roof over my head and a beautiful space that fosters my creativity and soothes my soul. I am even thankful for the squirrel that steals tomatoes from my garden, brazenly sitting on the top of the fence outside my bedroom window where I can see him but cannot reach him.
I am thankful for all of it. The good, the bad, the ugly, the fabulous. They all seem to even out in the end, and each cycle teaches me more about myself and what I am capable of achieving — not in an outward sense, but inwardly, manifesting itself in strength, courage, and resiliency. These are the gifts that make us who we are.
So on this beautiful Thanksgiving Sunday, I am going to take a few moments and go sit under my maple tree in the backyard. I'm going to eat an apple because you have to eat something apple-ish on Thanksgiving, and I'm going to ponder my life. I'm going to give thanks for the leaves I'm sitting in, the sunshine beaming in my face, and the fresh air in my lungs.
I will take a moment to give thanks for those who are no longer with me, especially my mom and dad. Without strong roots, we cannot grow. I thank them for my roots, and I thank them for their patience in having to deal with my insatiable inquisitive mind their whole lives. Yikes. I'm so sorry, Mom and Dad.
Lastly, I will take a lot of moments and give thanks for my wonderful sister — my best friend and partner in crime. Without her, my life would be, well, I don't even want to talk about it. We just get each other in a way that's extremely hard to put into words, even for someone like me who likes to blabber on endlessly. I'm thankful for her unconditional love because in the end, that's all that matters. Oh, and I'm thankful that she finally got a dog that I can snuggle and love but that lives at her house so I don't have to take it outside to go pee at three in the morning.
I am blessed. I am grateful. I am full of Thanksgiving joy!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to you all! Peace and love.