Thanksgiving

I am looking forward to this Thanksgiving because I will be with my family and dear friends. I have a mellow day planned... the pies are finished, our friends are cooking the turkey, W is making the rolls, and our son is making cranberry sauce, so I can spend the morning in a thanksgiving meditation.

In order to set this day apart, I will treat it as a Sabbath… no unkind words, no rushing, no work that isn’t thankful work. I choose to stay present, notice everything as if in slow motion, and pause often to observe what I am thankful for in this moment.


Agenda:
1. Thanksgiving Meditation for Peace and Abundance:
In order to start the morning right, I plan to begin giving thanks before I get out of bed, and just stay in a thanksgiving meditation as long as I can...Take a deep breath and feel deep gratitude for what I have, for the abundance of having a home, a family and friends. Be thankful for the things I usually take for granted.

I give thanks for my warm bed, for my slippers, my dog, my sleeping family, my clean kitchen, and my morning cup of coffee. I pray that my friends and family stay safe and well.

I give thanks for the pies on the table, the bread dough rising, and the abundance of food in the refrigerator. I pray that others find enough food today to feel full and satisfied.


I give thanks for a home of peace, and a town with no bombing. I pray for peace in the Middle East- I pray that the people of Iraq and Syria can overcome their differences and that peace will settle over all the land.

2. Give thanks:
For each new morning with its light, 

For rest and shelter of the night, 

For health and food, 

For love and friends, 

For everything Thy goodness sends.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thankfulness is a powerful and transforming emotion. I hope to take time to feel each nuance of the day, to feel gratitude for each person present, and for each dish offered; and give thanks for the food, all the way back to its source and all who handled it on the way to our table.

I hope to take the time to connect deeply with the people I am with and appreciate each person’s uniqueness, and I challenge myself to find out something new about every person at the table.