Rosy Glow – Thanksgiving 2018

by

Andrew DeMarco

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, we are always reminded that it is a day where we should give thanks for all we have and to realize how lucky we really are. I propose a new way to further celebrate the 4-day Thanksgiving holiday. After we stuff ourselves and have had our fill of food and family, many look forward to what is now called “Black Friday” a day where some satisfy themselves with shopping, which some may fool themselves and think that it is some form of exercise and a great way to shed some pounds that they put on the previous day, but that remains to be seen.

I propose a different way to celebrate. While you are sitting around with your family whether they are functional or dysfunctional on Thanksgiving, have a conversation and make a real list of all that you have to be thankful for and all that you think is right with the world and save it. Now I also propose to rename “Black Friday” and call it “Ungrateful” or “Unhappy Friday” so while you are waiting in line to pay for things you could have ordered on-line, make a list of all the things that make you unhappy or you feel ungrateful about. I guess if it puts you in a dark mood you can still call it Black Friday. On Saturday, you can take the two lists and do a little comparison.

I am willing to bet that the things you have to be grateful for far outweigh the things that make you unhappy. I am also pretty sure that those unhappy things are far from serious and can easily be turned into good. Here are some examples:

I am unhappy that I did not win a piece of that billion-dollar lottery a few months ago. It really made me glum, but then again had I won I am sure that all my friends and family that I am so grateful for would be calling me constantly which would stress me out. Also, having that much money would change my life and health due to additional stress. I am happy where I am at this point in my life so maybe not winning that lottery was a good thing. (Oh, who am I kidding!)

I am unhappy with the way society and politics seem to be going these days. But then I think of my elementary school days in the 60’s where we had riots in the streets, political assassinations and it looked like the world was spinning out of control. Then things changed, and I have learned that we experience ebbs and flows in politics and I am grateful that we live in a country that we are allowed to disagree and no matter how things look, judging by our history it eventually all works out.

I am unhappy that we will now be celebrating our 2^nd Thanksgiving without my Mother, Uncle Carmine, Uncle Guy and Uncle Tony. I am ungrateful that some of the younger members of my family like Cousins Louis, James, Lara, Robert and Mary Rose were taken from us too soon. I also think of all my other family members that went before them and it makes me unhappy and ungrateful that I can no longer enjoy the day’s festivities with them. But then I remember that each and every one of them touched me in some way and some more than others all had a hand in making me the person I am today, a person that I am happy with. I am sure that some of my friends will dispute that but then again that is why they are friends.

So, make those lists, do that comparison and I am sure that you will realize the things we have to be thankful for will always outnumber the ungrateful and the bad is not as bad as you may think. Another suggestion would be to save those lists and next Thanksgiving when you do it again make yet another comparison to see how things have changed, my guess, probably for the better. This I am sure will give you that feeling that Cousin Bob would call that…Rosy Glow!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!