Hello Dear Ones: Can you believe it’s nearly Thanksgiving? That means it’s time for the obligatory “what are you thankful for?” post.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Many people skip over it and focus on it’s flashy cousin, Christmas. Thanksgiving doesn’t have the twinkling lights and the presents. It doesn’t have whole sections of the craft store dedicated to it. I guess fattened turkeys and problematic pilgrims don’t have the same allure as a kindly, old man who brings you gifts and eats cookies.
I’ve long had a fondness for Thanksgiving. If you can get past the historical inaccuracies of that shared meal between pilgrims and Native Americans, the holiday is rich with symbolism. Gathering with people like you and people unlike you and, at least for a moment, celebrating the shared humanity in all of us. There’s room at the table for everybody and we all have more in common than what divides us.
Thanksgiving prompts us to pause and think of some things for which we are grateful. Considering the state of the world right now, we’ve never needed gratitude more. Our holidays look a little different this year, i.e. ordering ready-made Thanksgiving meals from local businesses because I hate to cook and eating at home under a blanket. Throw in a Zoom or video call with family and friends and that sounds a lot like 2020.
Even with the “uniqueness” of 2020, it is still important to think on what brought you joy or peace or hope this year. Doing so doesn’t diminish or discount the real grief and loss all contained in these past months. Rather it helps temper those hard-to-feel emotions and maybe makes it easier to face those hardships.
So in the spirit of Christmas’ quieter, introspective cousin Thanksgiving, I’m reflecting on this past year with a grateful heart. Here is a snippet of my list:
Thankful for the election results. We have a lot of work to do, and it’s hard to reconcile that a huge number of people still voted for Trump and what he represents. There’s much to do (and undo), but a Biden win gives us a moment to take a few deep breaths, gain some perspective, and figure out how to move forward.
I’m also thankful for the friends and family members who celebrated the win with me via texts, phone calls with happy tears, and virtual happy dances. For a moment, it felt like we weren’t in crisis mode.
Thankful for the chance to watch the seasons change from my work/writing space. I’ve been working remotely since March. The oak tree outside my window has almost come full circle, from spare branches to buds of leaves to its full summer glory to auburn fall colors and now spare again.
For the relationships that formed and/or grew despite COVID - socially-distanced fire pit nights, hikes with dear ones, virtual game nights, letter writing - all with friends both near and far.
For the opportunity to hit reset and take stock of what’s important to me, and in turn, feel more comfortable in my own skin, have faith in my own abilities, and trust my own mind.
I’m always thankful for tea. It’s a constant companion. These days I’m sipping some unusual holiday teas from Simpson & Vail. My favorite right now is the Winter Wonderland Rooibos. It’s a green rooibos with cacao and cinnamon, and notes of Bavarian chocolate and hazelnut.
Now it’s your turn. For what are you grateful right now? Big or small, it all matters.
What I’m Reading:
Sadly, I’m not reading anything right now. I need book recommendations. Any suggestions?
What I’m Watching:
Mostly reruns of The Office. Almost every episode is the best one, except for the Scott’s Tots episode. That one is difficult to watch.
What I’m Listening to:
Eternally listening to the What’s Her Name podcast. I mentioned this one before - two academic sisters tell stories of fascinating women you’ve never heard of. Most recently I enjoyed these episodes:
The Little Woman: All about May Alcott, younger sister to Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women. It changed how I feel about the character of Amy in Little Women, of whom May Alcott is loosely based. It also added some more layers to Louisa May Alcott.
The Resistance: This one introduces you to Truus and Freddie Oversteegen, teenage sisters who joined the Dutch Resistance when Nazis invaded their hometown of Haarlem. This one was so nuanced and layered. It really makes you think of what humans are capable of doing and how they make sense of it after the fact.