BY VICKY DeROSA
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
COMMENTARY
“Thanksgiving in North America had originated from a mix of European and Native traditions. Typically in Europe, festivals were held before and after the harvest cycles to give thanks for a good harvest, and to rejoice together after much hard work with the rest of the community. At the time, Native Americans had also celebrated the end of a harvest season. When Europeans first arrived to the Americas, they brought with them their own harvest festival traditions from Europe, celebrating their safe voyage, peace and good harvest.”
This folks is part of the definition of Thanksgiving from Wikipedia. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of Thanksgiving Day as “a day appointed for giving thanks for divine goodness: as a: the fourth Thursday in November observed as a legal holiday in the United States”.
Well for those of you who know me well, I am certain that you have already made assumptions about the direction of this column. Where are my thoughts headed? Yes, you are correct my friends. Do you know that a couple of days ago I heard someone refer to Thanksgiving Day as “turkey day”? Can it really be? Have some people really forgotten what Thanksgiving Day should mean? Can it be that some people might actually refer to a day “for giving thanks for divine goodness” as “turkey day”?
With so much struggle around the world, hunger, poverty and chaos part of our everyday lives; can we please remember that on Thanksgiving Day let’s all take a moment to praise God and give thanks for the miracles in our lives. In fact, lest you hear anyone refer to this day as “turkey day”, let’s try the following suggestion. On note cards or thank you cards or on anything you can find, write the words “Do something kind for someone today”. Give these cards to your friends, families and your children, teach everyone around you to live in Thanksgiving each and every day and to perpetuate kindness to each other each and every day.
Let’s make each and every day a day of Thanksgiving. Let us all wake up each morning and praise God for the miracles in our lives. And let’s go out there and promote kindness so that each and every person we come across feels a sense of gratefulness.
It is my sincere wish that each and every one of you have a glorious Thanksgiving Day, enjoy your friends and family and promote kindness. One last thought, before devouring what is probably going to be an extraordinary meal prepared by all of you, take a moment, go around the table and each and every one of you discuss something that you are grateful for.
A glorious Thanksgiving to all of you.
Vicky DeRosa is Founder and CEO of Studio V Health Corp. For more information check out www.studiovhealth.com.
ALSO BY VICKY DeROSA
For men: What is and is not sexy
Health myth busters: Frequently asked questions
Anti-aging foods and salad: 3 days to beautiful skin for women and men
Diabetes in N.J. and healthy foods that can help
