As America prepares for one of the biggest celebrations of the year, a non-religious or secular day of giving thanks, bringing all people together to eat, drink and be merry in a show of mass gratitude, indigenous Americans prepare for a day of mourning. A day to acknowledge the massacre of millions of people, the destruction and death of a nation and the racism, exclusion and oppression the “Original American” still experiences to this day. Ergo, there is much irony in the smiling toilet rolls depicted in the image above.
Growing up as a child in the US, we were taught that Thanksgiving was about bountiful harvests, the Pilgrim Fathers, those virtuous, brave souls who colonised the land of the free, the home of the brave. It was about getting together with friends and family, roast turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and corn, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. A wondrous day of celebration and appreciation!
That was at best, slightly misleading, at worst, a lie.
Now, education may have changed today in the US, I left age 12 and continued my education in the UK (Let’s not get into the role the British played in this sorry tale) but I have to wonder, and its good to wonder, where the confusion began?
When has it ever been okay to show gratitude for mass atrocities? To celebrate with joy and bounty a day and a time when millions of innocent people were slaughtered? Imagine serving turkey with all the trimmings to celebrate other genocides, the invasion and hostile takeover of a country, a national holocaust day perhaps, the rise of Hitler, the Rwandan Civil War, The Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot, the more I make these comparisons the more I wonder how on earth Thanksgiving became known as a day of gratitude?
I realise that not all Americans celebrate Thanksgiving these days, most likely because of some of the hypocrisy mentioned above, and if that is indeed the case, I for one, am grateful. I am also aware that some hardliners will take umbrage with my point of view on Thanksgiving, but this is my blog and as such, a great platform to exercise the first amendment, freedom of expression, of which I am also grateful. And for those who celebrate and will continue to do so, go forth and enjoy! Once upon a time I celebrated among you! You won’t find any judgement here, only me pointing out how gratitude can sometimes have a bad attitude.
And so then to the essence of gratitude, being thankful for the good and the wonderful things in life.
Gratitude doesn’t need to be reserved for momentous occasions and special days. Finding something, anything, to be grateful for in any given moment on any given day, has been scientifically proven to have positive a impact on your physical and mental health.
https://emmons.faculty.ucdavis.edu/gratitude-and-well-being/
If you’re anything like me (only human) remembering to find something to be grateful for every day is easier said than done and so, as old school as it probably sounds by now, keeping a gratitude journal, in my humble opinion is the best way to remember…not to forget.
Keeping a gratitude journal works because with continued use it changes the way you perceive situations by adjusting the things you focus on.
Get creative with what you write down. Rather than “I’m grateful for a lovely family, good job, nice home, sunny day.” etc., be more specific. Challenge yourself, go beyond the nice things right in front of your eyes and open them to more of the world around you. Have fun with trying to notice new things to be grateful for every day, things that make you smile, gives you goosebumps, a lovely feeling in your tummy, a sense of happiness, things that warm the cockles of your heart.
Gail Marra MBSCH D.Hyp is a Harley Street Clinical Hypnotherapist, Mindset Coach and Author of the best selling book Health, Wealth & Hypnosis – The Way To A Beautiful Life. https://gailmarrahypnotherapy.com/the-book-health-wealth-hypnosis/
