Tomorrow families and friends all across America will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving – a day we set aside to be grateful for the many blessing we have. For many this day actually brings up a lot of mixed emotions.True gratitude, is not something you can force or feel obligated to experience. According to Dana Velden – meditation columnist, “True gratitude rises up naturally when we’re confronted with the ways in which we are supported and provided for so Thanksgiving can be kind of tricky: We’re supposed to feel grateful, which can sometimes make us feel guilty, or crabby, or highlight all the ways we that aren’t feeling it.” Still, recognizing what is abundant in your life and bringing that to the forefront is always worthwhile, no matter the season or circumstance.
For many, Thanksgiving checks all of our boxes: food, family, and friends; contentment, pleasure, and satiation. “If this is the case, allow the gratitude to flow forward and let it inform your thoughts and actions,” Dana advises. “Share this sense of abundance at every opportunity.” If Thanksgiving isn’t such a great deal for you, if you’re not in a place to feel the gratitude, look for ways, no matter how small or ordinary, in which you’re supported and provided for. “Focus on that, and let it guide you towards some sense of belonging.”
