By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
Thanksgiving this year will be different for us all, no matter what our plans were – or are. That is an immutable fact. The world is different this year. And we are different this year.
So this year, we each have a choice: We can grumble and gripe about what we can’t do this year, or we can be thankful for all the things we can do.
The temporary relinquishing of some of what we are accustomed to doing is indeed temporary. We can complain, or we can go forward with gratitude.
Here are some things that we can all do during this Thanksgiving break, in no particular order.
• Do a more meaningful assessment of what we’re thankful for before a Thanksgiving meal. It’s become a routine chore, something required before devouring the meal. But we can and should be mindful of all the blessings we have around us: the food, a roof over our heads, heat in winter, the people in our lives (even if they can’t all be with us in-person), the technology that allows us to be together even when we can’t really be together, for the health of our family and community (even in the midst of a pandemic), for living in the richest country on the planet and having an embarrassing amount of “things” at our fingertips, for our churches that can adapt and continue even with limitations, for our military and our healthcare workers who put their lives on the line in order to protect ours, and so much more. Be personal. Be sincere. We truly have so much to be thankful for.
• Please, please patronize your local businesses. Neither Amazon nor Walmart can respond to you and your needs like your local businesses can. Buy gift cards from local businesses instead of meaningless “stuff” on a list. If you can’t spend money, you can help to promote them by word-of-mouth or in social media – and that doesn’t cost anything.
• Besides gift cards, buy what you need locally. Sure, you may save a few cents (or even more) elsewhere, but your local businesses need your business so much more! Choose the businesses you want to be here six months from now … and buy what they offer!
• Now that bars and restaurants are closed for four weeks for indoor dining, order take-out as much as you can afford. There’s a list on page 3 of all the local businesses we’re aware of and how they’re shifting to accommodate you during these coming weeks.
• Find things within your home that you might donate, to a food shelf or to a charity. There will be so many more needful families this year and this season than most of us can ever remember. Do you have such a stash of food or supplies that you can part with some of it? Do you have toys or clothing that are no longer used? Do you have too much furniture and “stuff” in your house – things another family truly needs? We don’t need to do heroic things to be someone’s hero.
• Be kind to one another. Even – and especially – when you really don’t feel like it. Kindness can be contagious, and it’s good for you!