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Giving Thanks after Thanksgiving: The Real Role of Gratitude

Between the months of October and November, the United States and Canada celebrate “Thanksgiving” – the  holiday seemingly designed for uncomfortable conversations with in-laws and turkey (or Tofurky), garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie and giblet gravy.

The original reasons for “Thanks Giving” celebrations are various; from Martin Frobisher surviving his voyage from England to discover a Northern Passage to the Pacific, or the Pilgrims of Plymouth celebrating an especially good harvest in 1621, to  the many many “harvest” celebrations in gratitude for the bounty of the season.

Thanksgiving dinner is over, but Thanks-Giving is also an act that we would all do well to inspire on days that don’t include snapping wishbones or football comas.  Giving Thanks and being grateful for what we have, observing the good things in our lives and thinking about what we care about is one of the fastest and surest ways to attract more success and abundance in our lives.  Being content and valuing what is HERE NOW is one of the most powerful things we can do to take care of those things which are truly important to us.

Gratitude reduces pain, fear and stress in ourselves and others.   We spend most of our lives focusing on what DOESN’T work, what we’re scared of, what we don’t like, what we don’t want to happen that we spend little time reflecting on what is true in the moment.