By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times
November is the month we celebrate Thanksgiving which is the gateway to the holiday season. These are all wonderful and comforting things to think about and look forward to, but there is something else that occurs every four years in our country.
I would be remiss if I did not talk about our power as citizens to vote for the candidate of your choice on election day this November.
The last two elections have been particularly draining on the country’s heart. Many of us are just waiting with exhaustion to exhale.
There are countries looking up to us for guidance and support but right now, I believe those countries are looking at us, scratching their heads, knowing we can do SO much better and BE so much better!
There is continued unrest about so many important, life-changing subjects and it all boils down to the total health of our nation. The subjects are our physical health, our mental health, our environmental health, community health and the health of our government.
We must strive to move forward and focus on building a healthy world, for the generations coming up and we can each do our part by voting.
Weariness has come over many of us as we navigate through the conclusion of the election.
It is time to pivot and set our sights towards the excitement and joy of the coming holidays.
We as a nation can accomplish anything if we work towards it together.
In our pledge of allegiance, it states that we are “one” nation, under God, “indivisible,” with liberty and justice “for all.” One nation, undivided with justice for all seems like a promising idea and something we should be grateful for.
How do we get there? We can start by shining a light in a dark room. We first must be our own light of grace and strength to lead the way.
Show a good deed in this weary world that is in desperate need of kindness, love and generosity of heart. Find the good and praise it. Alex Haley
We have been holding our breath for so long and as we move past the election and towards the end of the year, let us turn our attention back to Thanksgiving, taking a long, cleansing exhale of gratitude.
Having a grateful heart has a lot of benefits. A grateful heart improves self-esteem, improves physical health, improves psychological health, enhances empathy, and promotes better sleep.
The Swiss Philosopher, Henri Frederic Amiel, blended thankfulness, and gratitude together, so eloquently, when he said…Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.
My main message here is to focus on the celebration of Thanksgiving, which speaks of just that, which is the better perspective to focus on. It is the one that will live on, long past everything else.
Even in our darkest hour, there is something to be thankful for. Exhale and think of such things.
I will conclude by leaving thoughts of thankfulness, gratitude, and hope to dwell on.
We must find the time to stop and thank the people who have made a difference in our lives.
John F. Kennedy
I am thankful that I can share with you topics that are not only thought-provoking but that can give comfort as well.
Happy Thanksgiving.
