Thanksgiving

I’m deeply, sincerely sorry: I’m not American. So some of you might rightly argue: mind your own business, don’t mind ours. But I highly value all American people. I also must do some good with this blog, right? Otherwise, what’s the point? So, here I am. Sorry.

Thanksgiving: a peaceful pause of reflection dedicated to parents, family and friends. Remembering how it was first celebrated. Pilgrims back then were the refugees nowadays, they were starving and survived thanks to a local native Indian tribe. How everything has changed, hasn’t it? Time doesn't always change people for the better. Nowadays it’s all the opposite. Refugees face desperate situations and right now we’re turning them away (I’m saying “we”, not “you”). When they most need us. I’ve talked about refugees in my previous posts, more than one time. Poor, poor, miserable Europe. 

They’re people, not animals. THEY ARE NOT ANIMALS. One thing has been going on in Germany: refugees are giving back food to German homeless and giving flowers randomly to German people along the streets. That is Thanksgiving as the Pilgrims did in 1620.

Gratitude can change your lives. It already did centuries ago.

Now we want everything: success, achievement, money, status, a nice home, a nice job, a nice car. Things, things, things, things! But in reality small things and moments generate more satisfaction and happiness than large ones. Satisfaction comes from success, NOT happiness.

Happiness comes from practicing gratitude.

Gratitude to everybody and for everything you have. That you have now, not in your future. Whereas you know that happiness can’t be found outside you, but inside you. Use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to show gratitude.

What does it mean to live a good life? Do you feel a sense of disconnection? It might not be a bad thing, after all. Considering our crazy world. But the point is: do you like it? What do you do on Sunday? Do you work or consider it as a day of rest, as it should be? As our Lord command us. Is yours a merely material life, or at least a little bit spritual one? What’s your level of understanding and insight? If it’s only material, you’ll NEVER get the deep, true feeling of gratitude. You will never get the spirit of Thanksgiving.   

What is Thanksgiving? Being thankful. Again: what does it mean to live a good life? Do you live as if you’ll never die? You won’t hold it in your grasp forever. Be grateful to refugees. Reserve one more place at your table, as tradition. This time, just this one, for a refugee. You’ll feel happy.

And if you don’t do that, at least accept them.

….Always humble,

Angiolino