Giving Thanks,
Thanksgiving is the time we often give thanks for the people in our lives, as we run out the door at 3:00 am to ensure we get the best Black Friday deals.
Why do we do this? Why do we continually find ourselves shopping for that perfect gift, when the gift of being truly thankful is free and available to all of us. And when the practice of being thankful can offer you so much more than any item you can buy.
We can easily get caught up in the need to have stuff. We can feel like we won’t be happy without this item. But, this desire will never be squelched. We will always need something else, something newer, that item that someone else has.
True happiness
But, truly it is not the things that we really want. It is the feelings that come along with the things that drives this desire. Because advertisement has told us we can’t be whole without this item or because we were raised with monitoring items as rewards which made us feel approved of, even happy.
Once you are off the merry go round of wanting stuff, you can better look around your life and find that you truly have all the material items you actually need, and you can begin to fill your life with experiences that can create happiness that you really desire. When you begin to fill your life with adventure and connections that feed your soul, you can let go of the need to have stuff.
My ah ha moment
I went to an estate sale last week and I had an odd feeling as I watched people dig through the belongings of the person who had passed away. It was this ah ha moment when I thought, “Is this what our lives end up being, just a bunch of stuff that strangers dig through hoping for the chance to talk the sellers down to a few dollars? Is this what I want as my legacy?”
To help me get off this merry go round, (I am not immune to wanting stuff) I practice being appreciative for what I do have. Because in reality, we do have a lot to be thankful for. Each day the sun comes up we are given another opportunity to see the wonders around us, to make a difference, to touch another’s life, and to make someone happy. That’s the legacy I want.
Making the change
So, this Thanksgiving let’s give thanks for the people we have in our lives as well as the things that we have. And let’s find ways to build true happiness by creating stronger connections with others, time together with the people we love, and positive experiences.
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