A lesson of giving thanks from Mexico

It is a day of parades and football … a day of turkey and pumpkin pie … a day to greet friends and family and neighbors … and for some, a day to start Christmas shopping earlier than ever before.  But Thanksgiving, as the name implies, is a day to first and foremost give thanks for all we have to be grateful for.  

 Unfortunately, like so many other American holidays, the true meaning of Thanksgiving is often lost by the marketing and commercialization of things totally unrelated to the significance of the day.

It was with interest that a close Mexican friend of mine here in Puerto Vallarta, Pedro Barba, forwarded to me an article that resonated with him, and addressed the divergence that has occurred over the years, separating modern day reality from the traditional spirit of Thanksgiving.   Mexico does not celebrate Thanksgiving, but many Mexicans are acutely aware of the overindulgence Americans practice on so many levels during this so called day of giving thanks … the eating, the drinking, the shopping, the “official start of the holiday buying season.”   In fact, as more American companies (Wal-Mart, Best Buy, etc), open stores in Mexico, events such as Black Friday are beginning to creep into the local culture to the dismay of Mexican loyalists (larger cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara had their first Black Friday sales earlier this month).

So it was with a bit of sadness, nostalgia, as well as hope that I read the article that Pedro had sent me, The Magic of Thanksgiving: A Harvest from the Seeds of Gratitude by Syma Kharal.   Ms. Kharal’s message is that gratitude holds the power to change our lives in magical and miraculous ways.

During a period of darkness and depression in her life, Ms. Kharal sought paths within herself to create peace and light within her soul.  What she discovered was that giving thanks, not just one day of the year but throughout our lives, created a positive aura that transforms one’s own well-being.  She found appreciation to be a powerful tool to lead to a happier and healthier existence.   Through her discovery, she developed a series of practices that brought her closer to achieving the peace, love, and compassion that had been missing in her life. 

So on this Thanksgiving, as we watch the games on TV, as we over eat, as we fret over what we need to buy people for another upcoming holiday that has been largely lost to commercialization, perhaps it would be beneficial for all of us to not only today give thanks for the wonderfulness of our lives, but develop a plan to continue giving thanks long after the leftovers are gone. 

Here are some practices Ms. Kharal recommends to get started to embrace the gifts of gratitude:

From Start to Finish:
Silently or aloud, let “thank you” be the first and last words you say every day. As this becomes a habit, you’ll enjoy deeper, sweeter sleep at night and dreamier days.

Write it Out:
Every time you notice something to give thanks for, jot it down in your phone or a pocket notebook. Whenever you feel low, browse through your entries to instantly uplift your spirit.

Say it Loud, Say it Clear:
Thank every person who does anything for you throughout the day. Sometimes we take people who contribute to our day-to-day needs for granted, so showing them sincere appreciation acknowledges their efforts and brings joy to both.

Reach Out:
Once a week, go beyond “Liking” the post of someone in your circle, and send them a personal message expressing something you appreciate about them.

Thank Now, Receive After:
When you are working on manifesting a desire, give thanks for its fruition as if it is already here. This demonstrates your absolute faith to the universe that your intention will manifest, and the universe will deliver.

Thank the Not-So-Good:
We do not naturally feel grateful for our challenges, but there are gifts within the most trying experiences. When we give thanks for the lesson in any situation, we free ourselves of that condition and open to blessings that are much easier and more fun to give thanks for.

As we practice gratitude on all these different levels, we attract even more to be thankful for.

So, whether or not you’re celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday, I hope you will give thanks each day, and as I learned to, welcome all the magic and miracles of living a grateful life.