It was 1621 when the Wampanoag and the Plymoth colonists spent 3 days together – a celebration that did not likely include Turkey or pumpkin pie, but did include lots of deer meat and other foods + the giving of thanks.  It had been a rough year for the colonists.  They were very grateful to have survived and were also grateful to the help given by the Wampanoag.

However, Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thurday of the month as a time of gratitude.  (Interesting side note – President Franklin Roosevelt tried to change the date and make it earlier in order to stimulate the economy with more Christmas shopping, but failed)

It is good to set aside a day to focus on our blessings, but it is a better practice to try and assimilate gratefulness into our  every-day life.  There are many health benefits!  Better sleep, lowering of blood pressure, a stronger immune system, more stable glucose levels have all been associated with a thankful heart according to studies.

So I wish you all a most Happy Thanksgiving.  But I wish you all, even more, the habit of cultivating a grateful heart!  No matter what position one finds themself in, there is always SOMETHING to be grateful for.  Perhaps in the year ahead make a list….write it down…every day add something new to the list that you are grateful for!  I did this once, and it really helped me improve my frame of mind.  When forced to write down new items to be thankful for every day, I discovered that there were  many things I took for granted.   It definitely helped to change my outlook, so I think I will plan to do it again in 2026.

‘Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.”

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!