Universality of Gratitude
How to foster a deeper appreciation for gratitude that transcends specific customs and practices.
“Gratitude can be practiced in any way you want; there are no hard and fast rules,” a dear friend told me when I was trying to navigate the unfamiliar landscape of American traditions, with Thanksgiving looming as the grand enigma of all.
After our conversation, something clicked inside my mind and heart: Gratitude is universal and doesn't have to be restricted to any particular customs or practices.
Hello Friend, by the end of this blog, you will gain a profound insight into how gratitude is a universal concept to empower you to celebrate it authentically and how prioritizing presence over presents leads to a more mindful and intentional approach to expressing gratitude in personal and communal life.
Gratitude is universal and doesn't have to be restricted to any particular customs or practices.
Whether it is rooted in our familiar practices or carved by the nuances of culture, gratitude is a timeless thread running through the fabric of our lives, regardless of the changing traditions and customs. Different cultures and practices can shape it, but the essence of thankfulness remains universal.
Hollywood movies often show Thanksgiving as a festive gathering where adult children travel to visit their family members, watch parades with giant balloons, share laughs watching football, and feast on the iconic turkey.
As someone who was re-planted to the United States, I found this portrayal of this holiday to be enchanting, but it also left me wondering about its true essence and meaning.
Over the years, I have come to understand that the fourth Thursday of November is more than just a cinematic fantasy. It is a family and communal day and a ritual dedicated to gratitude, where we collectively pause to appreciate all that life has generously provided. It is about celebrating the harvests of life and giving thanks.
✴️ Weaving Legacies:
As a member of a blended multiethnic family, I am very aware of the idea of assimilation. And I realized that implementing universal gratitude into our lives doesn't mean shedding our cultural roots. Instead, it's about uniting traditions. So, as a family, we watch the balloons in the parade and football, and when it is time to sit down around a table, we pause, interlace hands, and express gratitude not just to each other but to the lands that generously host us and sustain our triumphs and trials, that even in times of hardship, it continues to nurture us.
We light candles to celebrate life, call the spirit of the One above and of our ancestors who reside in the high mountains, and honor the sacrifices and struggles of those who have come before us in this land of opportunity. We listen to the soothing sounds of water in the background to experience rejuvenation, and we leave the back porch door open to watch the leaves dance with the wind.
All of these practices are part of our gratitude ritual.
The act of coming together as a family to share in rituals and traditions creates a unique bond that runs deep and forms the very DNA of each family. These shared experiences ripple outwards, positively influencing and enriching our wider communities. It is our ability to pass down our stories and traditions through the art of storytelling that truly allows our legacy to transcend time and space. Through this timeless vessel, we ensure that our family's history and values are preserved and cherished for generations to come.
The act of coming together as a family to share in rituals and traditions creates a unique bond that runs deep and forms the very DNA of each family.
✳️ Presence Over Presents:
November is such a tricky month, and as the year draws to a close tinted with emotionality and expectations, let's reconsider the art of giving.
How about instead of overharvesting and overconsumption of material gifts, let's offer our presence. The true essence of gratitude lies in being present and, with our actions, showing our younger generations the profound value of being grateful for life's highs and lows.
Thanksgiving is a time to connect with family and community and also a reminder to embrace the spirit of gratitude in our daily lives. It's not just about turkey and tradition but about creating a narrative of appreciation that resonates in the stories we tell and the legacy we leave behind.
✅ How will you continue the timeless tradition of giving thanks?
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I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below if this article helped you, drop a comment with the word "Thanksgiving" to let me know!
Here is a short heart practice in gratitude to show you how grateful I am for you.
With love and in community,
Lorena
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