Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

Do you know about the popular US holiday celebration called Thanksgiving which takes place at the end of November each year? As many of you live in the States, you’ll probably be mildly amused to think that some people may not have heard of Thanksgiving.

What is Thanksgiving?

If I’ve got it right, originally Thanksgiving came about as a way of celebrating a bountiful harvest of food.

What’s wonderful is that lately people are using Thanksgiving as a way of giving thanks for just about everything in their lives they’re grateful for.

I wasn’t planning to mention Thanksgiving here but I’ve been touched by the vast numbers of people on the Internet who are writing about things they are grateful for. People are blogging about it, tweeting it and giving thanks on their Facebook pages.

There’s a lot of love and happiness being shared all the way round the world because of Thanksgiving.

Globalization can be a good thing

Usually I think globalisation is a bad thing. Seeing the popularity of McDonalds in developing countries makes me sad. Hearing that a major fast food chain may be opening close to my home makes me shudder.

But US citizens are really onto something with this Thanksgiving thing. If their annual celebration and thankfulness can spread via the Internet and teach other people the joys of practicing the art of gratitude, even just for one day, then the world will surely be a better and happier place.

I’ve already written about the importance of being grateful, explained why we should practice gratitude more often and suggested simple things most of us can be grateful for on a daily basis.

Now it’s time to practice giving thanks again so I’ll get the ball rolling.

Things I’m thankful for

  • Having support and feedback from an amazing and diverse group of readers;
  • Being able to share what I’ve learnt and what I’m learning with other people who want to live their dream;
  • Living in a stunning place and sharing that with my kids;
  • Being able-bodied, solvent and inquisitive;
  • Believing that the world is my oyster and that people can get what we want if they put their minds to it.

What are you thankful for right now?

Thank you so much for reading

I can’t say it enough. My readers are a huge part of my dream and I’m so glad you visit the site, read what I write and sometimes share your thoughts with us. Thank you all.

Thanks also to Q Thomas Bower for the photo.

Don’t forget to get updates by email now or get the RSS Feed, if you haven’t already, so you don’t miss out.

As always, good luck with all your plans!

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12 Comments

  1. Desertgirl November 27, 2009 at 4:13 pm - Reply

    It is a nice idea isn’t it? That taking of a moment to reflect and then tell people what it is you are thankful for. Lovely. And uplifting.

  2. Gordie Rogers November 27, 2009 at 8:53 pm - Reply

    It’s great if you can be thankful for everything in your life everyday. We often don’t appreciate enough of what we have.

  3. Annabel Candy November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm - Reply

    Yes, it’s brilliant and so simple. You’ve got to do it every day and it’s amazing that reading what other people are grateful for makes you feel happier too!

  4. Bradley November 28, 2009 at 2:46 am - Reply

    happy thanksgiving.

    thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but the day after, known as black friday, almost spoils it.

    i am thankful that thanksgiving is still about being with family and being thankful for what we have and about giving back to the community. it is a shame that most other holidays have become so commercialized.

  5. Florin - Infinite Journey November 28, 2009 at 4:07 am - Reply

    thanks for giving your best :)

  6. Nancy Burcham November 28, 2009 at 6:02 am - Reply

    Every day I marvel at the wonders of the internet that is so integral now in keeping us all connected while living the lives of our dreams!!! When you really think of all of the visionary people and businesses it took, all adding their little pieces of the creative puzzle, to form this amazing World Wide Web as we now know it, it is almost unfathomable that it worked! So that is the best example I keep in front of me to remember that even huge visions are possible with a co-creative spirit amongst us!!
    I am also SO grateful for a large circle of friends who have become my international family in Costa Rica, where I have no other family. And I am grateful for the ever- expanding circle of friends I now have around the world, too, like you Annabel!
    Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

  7. Annabel Candy November 28, 2009 at 1:18 pm - Reply

    Bradley – Thanks! It does seem to be a good idea – food, friends and family with no gifts. But what is black Friday? Is it all about shopping and sales. That’s dire. Definitely one to be boycotted!

    Nancy – I celebrated Thanksgiving in 2007 and 2008 with you and thanks to you. Great to have had the experiences and eaten all those odd US dishes – like sweet potato with marshmallow and pumpkin pie! Thanks for the cultural exchange. Will have to make you some nice British bread sauce sometime:)

  8. Randall November 28, 2009 at 5:15 pm - Reply

    Black Friday is a relativley new American invention. I believe it is only about 5-6 years old. Sorry if my research is lacking but that is my first memories of it. I believe americans have been doing it for many years but the black friday is a term coined of late.

    I always loved Thanksgiving because it was a day of family and fellowship with each other. I remember when I was young no matter how far away we lived from our relatives we would always plan to be with them. My fondest memories stemmed from as a young boy sitting around listening to the adults talk and communicate with each other as the night grew late. We would somehow find a place to sleep, maybe in the floor or a stray couch if we were lucky. We would wake to the aroma of a fresh hot breakfast make by my grandmother!

    No gifts were exchanged except for the gift that remains with me to this day! The gift of experiencing the true value of family.

  9. web designing Vancouver November 28, 2009 at 8:19 pm - Reply

    “Thanks Giving” really its very nice concept. I want to wish every one a a happy thanks giving day.

  10. Bradley November 29, 2009 at 11:40 am - Reply

    black friday is when retailers go from being in the red to being in the black. accounting wise at least.

    stores offer these ridiculous sales to get people out and shopping during the wee hours of the morning. people have gotten injured trying to get some of the merchandise in past years.

    it isnt worth it. at least not to me. i would rather pay twice what something is worth than to fight the crowds on black friday.

  11. Connie November 30, 2009 at 11:48 am - Reply

    Annabel, thanks for noticing that we Americans do have some cool stuff going on :-) I love your perspective as usual.

  12. teresa December 5, 2009 at 1:23 am - Reply

    I’m thankful for you :)

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