Mashed potatoes has to be one of my all time favorite foods. Like stuck on an island for life gimme some potatoes and butter. Done. So when I found out they made a whole holiday about them ... I freaked.Okay so the holiday isn't around mashed potatoes, but when I was about 4 we walked into my grandma's house and I literally smelled mashed potatoes, so I said so, and the whole family erupted at my adorable stupid sillyness. It can't possibly smell like potatoes with a turkey in the oven!! Awww ... we hope you grow up pretty honey!
Thanksgiving is my husbands all time favorite holiday. And I'm not really sure why, he hates Turkey, he told me it's the cardboard of meats. He's not a huge potato guy, and lets face it all the rest is just, well sides. But, he maintains it's his favorite and even though year after year I out eat him, we all just pretend he really does love it.
But aside from the tryptophan, football, potatoes - sweet and otherwise, nasty cranberries and if you're lucky my grandmothers seriously world famous (okay maybe not the entire world but our marketing team is working on it) apple pie, why celebrate?
I feel like some of us are losing interest in history. Who cares lets party!!!!! Well ... that's all well and seriously good. I love food and I love my family, so any reason to get together is awesome for me. But really our nation made a day for people to used to not have to work, so that they could give pause and reflect on all the things they're Thankful for. People aren't Thankful anymore. I mean not really. And yes I know I'm making a generalization and you're sitting over there on your computer all offended because you're like I'm Thankful everyday whacko! The reality is, yes you may be thankful, but so many people aren't. Trending generations not happy with what was, or what they have. When I was a kid I was spending time building a horrible death trap we called a tree fort in the back yard tree. Now these kids have their own cell phones, iPads (not even iPods anymore, they get the whole pad!), tv's, DS's, laptops, portable DVD players and on and on and on. To be frank, I don't have half those things and I'm an adult.
When I was in high school, I was lucky that my mom let me drive the family van to school. I hated every minute of that stupid thing, but I was honestly lucky. As a senior, you shouldn't have to ride the bus. But there was a kid in my grade who when he turned 16 got a brand new Mustang. It was red. Sweet. He threw a tantrum in school, that everyone heard about because it was 1 year old. It wasn't the newest model. Yep. Happened fer real. I can tell you his name. But I won't. That's what I went to school with. I'm lucky to have a hideous Astro van, SERIOUSLY lucky, and he's complaining because his brand new Mustang isn't new enough ... These are the generations who grow up to teach their children about materials. Possessions. Having THINGS are important. The more things you have the better you are.
Well, not that I'm a good enough parent to offer that deep of parental advice, but I think we need to send a different message to the upcoming generations. Whether you're a parent, mentor, teacher, friend, we all have opportunities to impact future generations. When I was lifeguarding at my home town pool the kids recognized me in the grocery store. This one kid said Mommy Mommy that's a lifeguard! I knew I needed to set an example. As dumb as that sounds, that was cool to me! It was like my own tiny little version of celebrity. But also important. I knew that kid would be watching what I did. Monkey see Monkey do.
I'm to a point in my life where I am starting to try to mature. I think deep down if you lose your inner kid a piece of you is gone, but we also need to start not fully acting like that inner kid. I have been able to let go of a lot of the wants in my life and focus on the needs. And the ability to do that has not been an easy road. It has taken a lot of kicks in the face and fire's under the rump. Mostly I had to focus on opening my eyes. Telling myself do you see this? Do you know what is going on? Through my grandfather, my last remaining grandfather being diagnosed with cancer, to my work in Human Trafficking, to all the horrendous storms and tragedies. I have to understand that what I have does not define who I am. My house, messy and creeky and small as it may be, does not make me a bad or incomplete person. I am a homeowner. How many people do not get to call themselves that ever? Or did once, but not any longer.
Our nation, and if you know your heritage your ancestors, have fought and died, and worked, and slaved to get you to where you are now. The people who have come before us had to go through hell and back to get this country where it is now. When the people from England first came here to start a new life, it was no life at all. If we're cold we throw on a sweater and put a space heater wherever we want. They died. If we want a snack we go to the fridge and eat something. They went days without eating. We celebrate Thanksgiving to remember those people who literally gave their lives to start something here. To give people an opportunity to live freely the way they want. So that if you want your kid to have a Corvette before they turn 10 you can get them one. It's not about the stuff. It's about the opportunity. And people sacrificed everything they had to give you, someone they don't know, that opportunity.
My husband thinks I cry too much, which is probably true. But I don't see it as a sign of weakness like he does. I see it as a deep emotional bond to things that amaze me. Awesome wonders of the world around me that blow my mind. So as this Thanksgiving rolls around, I'll consider it a success if I cry a little. Remembering those who are no longer with us. Thinking of all that I have and how fortunate I am to have it. How incredible of a life I am privileged to lead and praying I don't mess it up.
I hope you find true Thankfulness this Thanksgiving. A moment or moments, to really, truly, honestly reflect on your life, and the lives of those you love. How we are so lucky to be where we are and have the ones we love near by.
Go and give Thanks ... and don't forget to be really thankful.
Thanksgiving is my husbands all time favorite holiday. And I'm not really sure why, he hates Turkey, he told me it's the cardboard of meats. He's not a huge potato guy, and lets face it all the rest is just, well sides. But, he maintains it's his favorite and even though year after year I out eat him, we all just pretend he really does love it.
But aside from the tryptophan, football, potatoes - sweet and otherwise, nasty cranberries and if you're lucky my grandmothers seriously world famous (okay maybe not the entire world but our marketing team is working on it) apple pie, why celebrate?
I feel like some of us are losing interest in history. Who cares lets party!!!!! Well ... that's all well and seriously good. I love food and I love my family, so any reason to get together is awesome for me. But really our nation made a day for people to used to not have to work, so that they could give pause and reflect on all the things they're Thankful for. People aren't Thankful anymore. I mean not really. And yes I know I'm making a generalization and you're sitting over there on your computer all offended because you're like I'm Thankful everyday whacko! The reality is, yes you may be thankful, but so many people aren't. Trending generations not happy with what was, or what they have. When I was a kid I was spending time building a horrible death trap we called a tree fort in the back yard tree. Now these kids have their own cell phones, iPads (not even iPods anymore, they get the whole pad!), tv's, DS's, laptops, portable DVD players and on and on and on. To be frank, I don't have half those things and I'm an adult.
When I was in high school, I was lucky that my mom let me drive the family van to school. I hated every minute of that stupid thing, but I was honestly lucky. As a senior, you shouldn't have to ride the bus. But there was a kid in my grade who when he turned 16 got a brand new Mustang. It was red. Sweet. He threw a tantrum in school, that everyone heard about because it was 1 year old. It wasn't the newest model. Yep. Happened fer real. I can tell you his name. But I won't. That's what I went to school with. I'm lucky to have a hideous Astro van, SERIOUSLY lucky, and he's complaining because his brand new Mustang isn't new enough ... These are the generations who grow up to teach their children about materials. Possessions. Having THINGS are important. The more things you have the better you are.
Well, not that I'm a good enough parent to offer that deep of parental advice, but I think we need to send a different message to the upcoming generations. Whether you're a parent, mentor, teacher, friend, we all have opportunities to impact future generations. When I was lifeguarding at my home town pool the kids recognized me in the grocery store. This one kid said Mommy Mommy that's a lifeguard! I knew I needed to set an example. As dumb as that sounds, that was cool to me! It was like my own tiny little version of celebrity. But also important. I knew that kid would be watching what I did. Monkey see Monkey do.
I'm to a point in my life where I am starting to try to mature. I think deep down if you lose your inner kid a piece of you is gone, but we also need to start not fully acting like that inner kid. I have been able to let go of a lot of the wants in my life and focus on the needs. And the ability to do that has not been an easy road. It has taken a lot of kicks in the face and fire's under the rump. Mostly I had to focus on opening my eyes. Telling myself do you see this? Do you know what is going on? Through my grandfather, my last remaining grandfather being diagnosed with cancer, to my work in Human Trafficking, to all the horrendous storms and tragedies. I have to understand that what I have does not define who I am. My house, messy and creeky and small as it may be, does not make me a bad or incomplete person. I am a homeowner. How many people do not get to call themselves that ever? Or did once, but not any longer.
Our nation, and if you know your heritage your ancestors, have fought and died, and worked, and slaved to get you to where you are now. The people who have come before us had to go through hell and back to get this country where it is now. When the people from England first came here to start a new life, it was no life at all. If we're cold we throw on a sweater and put a space heater wherever we want. They died. If we want a snack we go to the fridge and eat something. They went days without eating. We celebrate Thanksgiving to remember those people who literally gave their lives to start something here. To give people an opportunity to live freely the way they want. So that if you want your kid to have a Corvette before they turn 10 you can get them one. It's not about the stuff. It's about the opportunity. And people sacrificed everything they had to give you, someone they don't know, that opportunity.
My husband thinks I cry too much, which is probably true. But I don't see it as a sign of weakness like he does. I see it as a deep emotional bond to things that amaze me. Awesome wonders of the world around me that blow my mind. So as this Thanksgiving rolls around, I'll consider it a success if I cry a little. Remembering those who are no longer with us. Thinking of all that I have and how fortunate I am to have it. How incredible of a life I am privileged to lead and praying I don't mess it up.
I hope you find true Thankfulness this Thanksgiving. A moment or moments, to really, truly, honestly reflect on your life, and the lives of those you love. How we are so lucky to be where we are and have the ones we love near by.
Go and give Thanks ... and don't forget to be really thankful.
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