Thanks and Gratitude

Stereotypically, Thanksgiving is the day to eat, entertain, perhaps watch a little football, and celebrate having the day off (if this is applicable). Since we have spent the last five Thanksgiving days abroad, we aren't necessarily concerned with the actual day of Thanks, but rather the concept; get together with your family, whoever that may be at the time, and one whichever day works in the schedule, and simply enjoy the company. In Ireland, we merged our celebration with the Canadian one and invited our dear friends, though most who attended were neither American or Canadian, to eat pumpkin pie and turkey. And one of them, without fail, asks the question "what is Thanksgiving celebrating?". Good question.

So, the answer usually starts off with the celebration of the last harvest before winter, pilgrims, etc... But we never really answer the question, I think.

We did no official celebrating year. Not even pie!!  Instead, I spent the actual day of Thanksgiving, feeling grateful I studied for my yoga teacher training exams as I furiously wrote for two hours plus.  However, we were instructed to take a moment to write down things we are grateful for during our morning class, and my little square of paper was filled with names. Family and friends. So, to answer the question that many of you have asked: Thanksgiving to me, is a day to celebrate gratitude for family and friends. Otherwise, why would we continue to prepare food for hours and hours, then entertain, then clean up for hours (days) afterwards?!

Here's to you all, and hoping you've had an exceptional thirty days of gratitude and thanks, and maybe you ate an extra slice of pie for me.
Sending lots of love!