Many people would say Thanksgiving is a holiday to remember what we’re thankful for.  That would be true, but what is it about Thanksgiving we look forward to?  The time we’re going to spend with family? The “eat, drink and be merry” part?  I don’t think we look forward to Thanksgiving so we can give thanks, because we have the ability to give thanks any time we want to, so that means we look forward to all the other aspects of the holiday.  We catch up with each other.  We talk about different subjects and offer advice to each other.  We laugh.  We enjoy each others presence (hopefully).  The belief that because that particular span of time is over, that the fun and joy we experience during Thanksgiving has to end is a limiting belief.  It’s also a disappointing belief.   I remember some of the worst feelings I had were when the holidays ended,  the family went their separate ways never to be seen again until the next holiday, and I had to go back to school.  After Thanksgiving I usually had some big school project I had procrastinated on staring me dead in the face, so I guess you can say I added to my own disappointment.

The Power of Appreciation

Thanksgiving has passed, but shouldn’t we give thanks everyday? Or at least more often than once a year?  If we don’t appreciate what we have already, what would be the point of acquiring more? the new feeling?  to impress others?  It would be like trying to fill a bottomless pit.  You will never be at peace with what you have if you’re not at peace with what you have now.

When we appreciate our reality, we take care of it.  We make sure its needs are met.  What’s really great about appreciation is that when we value our reality, we receive more from it anyway.  I found that when I felt genuinely thankful for my apartment, it became much cleaner and much more organized.  Appreciation wasn’t the only reason it became cleaner and more organized, but it definitely played a huge role.  Cleaning the house was no longer an overwhelming job I had to schedule in on my list of things to do like it was before I understood the power of appreciation.

Acknowledging Appreciation

Even if we do understand the value of what we have now, do we acknowledge that we appreciate it?  Do we tell people we love them for no reason? Or do we wait for some special occasion.  Do we tell our kids we appreciate them just for being them? Or do we say “We’re proud of you, but…”.  What if someone came up to you and told you that what you do is enough.  What if they acknowledged the positives about you and really let you know they appreciated you WITH NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE behind it.  How would that make you feel?  What would you think about that person?

Being Thankful or the Bad

Maybe you view your circumstances as awful.  Maybe you just view some aspects of your life as bad.  Whatever it is, it’s not the end of the world.  You can still be thankful for the life circumstances you perceive as bad by treating them as a learning/growing experience.  If you’re in a situation you don’t want to be in, instead of complaining about it or blaming someone else, say to yourself “what can this teach me?”.  Learn the lesson and appreciate that the lesson is there.  You can also share the dark times to help other people out of those same dark situations.

Appreciation is mainly an aspect of awareness, and if we can be aware about the value of what is around us more often, we can reach new heights in all areas of our life.

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