The Giving of Thanks

So, here in the U.S. (as well as Canada, Liberia, Grenada and the territories of Puerto Rico and Norfolk Island) we celebrate Thanksgiving. It's a day that we set aside and take the time to acknowledge and appreciate what we have to be grateful for. Families get together, there's a feast, and football is on television. If you don't celebrate it, you're probably familiar with it.

While I could go into a political diatribe on the excessive commercialization of Christmas and how this holiday means little nowadays, but I won't. There is far too much negativity out there and I want this post to be in the spirit of Thanksgiving. So often we take advantage of the things in our lives that we rarely stop and reflect on how blessed we really are. Our jobs, homes, friends, family, the food on our tables and clean water that we drink are all things that many of us don't even think about, yet most of the world is without the barest of necessities. Our freedom of travel, speech, worship, etc. is a foreign concept in many countries. Even though this is 2014, there are those who are persecuted on a daily basis for being the "wrong" gender, believe in the "wrong" religion, be a member of the "wrong" political party, or simply because they live on the "wrong" part of a city.

So, this is why Thanksgiving is so important to me. It's the one day of the year where we express gratitude for what we have and reflect on those not as fortunate as us. Charitable giving goes up expedentially during this time, which is something I love to do and encourage others to do, as well. Not just this time of year, but throughout the year. Because, as the saying goes, you never truly appreciate what you have until after it's gone.

So, with that, I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and may you spend it with those you love.