Most Americans know all about how we've come to
celebrate Thanksgiving; our kids are in school plays about it, there are themed
movies (cartoon and real-life), musicals and more.
So this information should come as no surprise:
In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn
harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory
feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies,
including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first
Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves probably didn't use the term at
the time—the festival lasted for three days. We know all this because the
pilgrims were writers. There are two primary sources for the events of autumn
1621 in Plymouth: Edward Winslow writing in Mourt's
Relation and Gov. William Bradford writing in Of Plymouth Plantation. Only
slightly more impressive than the fact that these documents survived and are
preserved from 395 years ago, is our present-day celebration of it.
Thanksgiving didn't become a federal holiday until
1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of giving thanks
to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November, making the festivity 153
(official) years old this year. But we still acknowledge that first feast and
incorporate many of the elements of the original Thanksgiving.
Now, like many traditions, the actual feast
food has been transformed over time, but we keep the turkey as a
centrally recognized theme and symbol of the holiday and that comes directly
from the 1621 feast.
Hand-in-hand
with the food comes the concept of "giving thanks". Many families go
around the table, each one saying what they are thankful for. I know this is
also a concept we are all familiar with: being
conscious of the benefits we've received, and expressing our thanks. But how often do we do this? In our day to day activities, how mindful are
we of the things others do for us? Do we
pause for a beat and sincerely say "Thank you" to those people? And
guess what? Doing this benefits yourself as well as others! Grateful people
“feel more alert, alive, interested, enthusiastic. They also feel more
connected to others,” says Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at the
University of California/Davis, who has written two books on the science of
gratitude and often studies the effects of those gratitude diaries. According to the Harvard Health publication,
"Healthbeat", "In positive psychology research, gratitude is
strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps
people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their
health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships" Studies have also shown that focusing on what
you're grateful for, even on a weekly basis (as compared to those who focused
on daily irritations and what displeased them) leads to feelings of optimism,
less trips to the Doctor and an inclination to exercise more.
So perhaps,
this year (in the midst of a very unusual year for our country) put some purposeful
effort into this and reflect upon what you're thankful for. You will enrich the
lives of others and maybe even inspire someone else to do the same.
Happy
Thanksgiving everyone!
Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
