Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It’s a celebration of plenty. We take a couple days off from work. We come together with people that we care about. Food is the central theme, with preparation as part of the merriment. Even if the food is cold when it gets to the table, it’s all good. There’s not much to complain about on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving is also a confusing holiday. There’s a big push to donate money and groceries to Food Banks to help those people who are less fortunate. We do this once a year as if the hunger problem can be wiped out in a single donation effort.
We eat and drink more than we should, which leaves us feeling stuffed, dehydrated, and generally uncomfortable for hours.
Minutes after the Thanksgiving dinner is cleared from the table, the advertising push for Christmas/holiday shopping begins. Last year “Black Friday” was extended into a two-day event, kicking off in the wee hours of the morning after Thanksgiving Day. This year, I have heard radio advertising for pre-Black Friday specials. They say that you can save money if you buy stuff before Black Friday. Shop now.
As I see it, we spend a few hours on Thanksgiving Day “counting our blessings” only to be compelled to accumulate more blessings by way of shopping, gift giving, credit card charging, etc. The message is clear: More is better. In America, consumerism is the symbol of success and happiness. Or is it?
The hole is part of what makes it whole
I met a woman recently who shared her dilemma with envy. She couldn’t help but feel lacking when she compared what she had with what others had.
She compared her house and neighborhood to the homes and neighborhoods she would see driving by. She felt “less than.”
Then she shared a bit of inspiration that her mother had given to her:
“I have to remind myself to keep my eye upon the donut, and not upon the hole.”
A few days later, I saw her again at a party. I had to laugh when one of the other guests brought a beautiful box of decorative mini donuts. Most of the donuts’ holes were adorned with fancy designs that made them look absolutely fantastic.
Clearly the universe was sending me a message that I needed to hear as well. Somehow it all comes together at the perfect time in just the right way. They say that when the student is ready, the teacher appears.
Cherish what you have
The key to happiness is being content with who you are right now; what you have and where you are. Yes, you are a work in progress, always under construction. Learning, growing and wanting more for yourself and others. Ambition is a great motivator, but it must be tempered with gratitude. Daily gratitude.
It’s difficult to disguise your discontent. It expresses itself in nonverbal ways, such as your body language, your attitude and the way you interact with others. If accumulation is all that you seek and all that you desire, you may find that the existing people and things in your life may feel unappreciated and unable to make you happy.
This Thanksgiving holiday, I invite you to count your blessings, not your wanting.
Your Networking Goal for the Week
Make a list of your blessings – one for every year you have been on this Earth. For example, I just turned 51 years old, so my list will be composed of 51 blessings. I encourage you to write them down in a journal or type them out on your computer. Share them with someone in your life who knows and respects you well.
Also, reach out to people in your network and express your gratitude for them. You might say “I am honored to know you and have you in my network.” or “I’m grateful to call you my friend.” or “I’m blessed to know you.” You will find that it feels good to say this to people that you care about. In networking, you don’t always have to give people stuff; sometimes it’s the sincere expressions of thanks and gratitude that can really make someone’s day and draw you closer together.
Happy Thanks-Giving day to you and yours!
