Giving Thanks For All of Life’s Blessings and for You

By: Red Hot Mamas

Published: November 15, 2024

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul”

~Henry Ward Beecher

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving Day is here again. The year seems to have gone by so quickly. I wanted to not only wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, but also talk a little about how this holiday became a federal holiday in the United States that is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.  I’d also like to share my thoughts with you, as well as my reflections as to what I’m personally so thankful for.

So why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? Here’s a little bit of history. Thanksgiving is known to commemorate the colonial Pilgrim’s harvest meal in 1621 that they shared with Wampanoag Indians. The Wampanoag Indians were key to the survival of the colonists during the first year that they arrived in Massachusetts. Following their arrival in 1620, about half of the colonists died due to a very cold and bad winter. Those colonists who survived sought the help from the Indians. The Indians taught the colonists how to plant corn and crops. Their harvest was plentiful in 1621 and to show thanks, the colonists held a feast.

Today, Thanksgiving is all about reflecting on our blessings and acknowledging gratitude. One of the most heartwarming aspects of Thanksgiving is its emphasis on family and reconnecting with our friends. We celebrate at our tables savoring delicious food and experience a sense of togetherness that lingers on long after the last bite of the pumpkin pie that we have eaten.

And now, what I’m grateful for. I’m thankful for the opportunity to connect with all of you through our newsletter “The Menopause Minute”. You all have made my life happier, and I thank you for your kindness and support of our organization “Red Hot Mamas”.

I’m also thankful for my husband, my family; my lifelong friends; my family dog Marco whom I love to cuddle with and for my good health.

I do hope that you all are experiencing good health that you are thankful for. And that your efforts to eat healthily, exercising regularly and getting plenty of rest have been beneficial to your health.

And, please let this Thanksgiving be a grounding experience in which you can appreciate the present moment and acknowledge the people who have shaped your lives embracing them with gratitude.

Let us all remember the importance of connection and appreciation of one another; cherish the moments we can spend together; and try to create new memories and carry the spirit of gratitude throughout the year.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving and please remember that the staff at Red Hot Mamas is grateful to have you in our lives.

Good Health to You All,

Karen Giblin