H.U. Westermayer wrote, The pilgrims made seven times more grave than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished that these, who, nevertheless set aside a day of thanksgiving.. Gratitude and gratefulness are not available to us only when things are going well. Often, it is when things are their darkest and we must dig the deepest to find something-anything to embrace with thankfulness that we need to do so the most. Approaching our lives from this spirit of appreciation for what we do have versus focusing on what we have lost or can not attain is not denying our grief, but is a stance of "and" not "either/or". We can be happy and sad, experience joy and despair, comfort and discomfort. One of the keys is in finding or creating personal meaning in all we encounter. Creating a personal thanksgiving prayer or ritual for yourself or family or modifying traditional activities might revitalize your sense of appreciation for that which is good and complete in your life at this present time.
