First Feast as One

Just before our traditional feast I ask those ready to break bread, "Name at least one thing you are most grateful for today". Most are ready to dive into the meal but oblige me with an easy answer, "this food and the people here today", or something like that. Then I can't help myself, "anything else?". It's interesting what they share. I strategically go last. My list pours out over us. We smile, we laugh, we celebrate.

The gift of feeding another is your superpower. No one should ever go hungry from poor nutrition or starve from a lack of love. Sometimes we focus on the "Thanks..." and not the "...giving". Let's do both.

Happy ThanksGiving!

Did You Know? (reports vary):

In September of 1620, Pilgrims known as religious separatists, and the ship's crew sailed from England on the Mayflower headed for Virginia to begin a new life in the New World. But after two months at sea and blown off course they landed at the tip of Massachusetts, now known as Cape Cod. Short on supplies, they helped themselves in desperation to crops of the indigenous people. Fortunately, Samoset of the Abenaki people came to them as he also spoke English. With his leader's guidance he graciously led them to the Wampanoag people who taught them about the land and waters' resources.

Due to their assistance, about half of the approximately 100 passengers survived harsh famine and diseases. A year later, in November 1621, they all shared the harvest in a 3-day feast between the new Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoags, now known as the First Thanksgiving.

United States and Thanksgiving History

In 1789 Congress proposed and President George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national holiday. In 1869, Abraham Lincoln's proclamation went further, standardizing it to the last Thursday of November. But, in 1939 Franklin Roosevelt concerned this may affect spending during economic recovery of the times with less weeks before Christmas, he changed it to the second to the last Thursday in November. 32 states accepted this while 16 did not, of the 48 states at the time. A few other amendments over the years eventually led to all states observing annually on the 4th Thursday in November.

Reflect on this tradition of ThanksGiving as you notice what comes up first, then follows...fond memories of people, places and meals shared together.
And the gift of Giving.
Shine your smile and warm your hearts.

With thanks and gratitude for the gifts of giving,

Gina

Fusion Owner, Registered Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, R.N.