Dear friends, In the bitter winter of November 1620, Pilgrims and Puritans from England landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. These early settlers came to America for different reasons. Like today’s immigrants, some sought for cultural and religious freedom, others were just looking for a new beginning in life. These settlers made friends with the Native Indians who kindly helped them to get through that first winter. The Indians also showed the Pilgrims how to plant and grow crops during the following spring and summer. When fall came, the settlers had a bountiful harvest. In November 1621, a group of settlers decided to set aside three days each year to celebrate the blessings of the past year and express their gratitude to their Indian friends. They shared meals and gave thanks to God for their blessings. Today, Thanksgiving Day is to commemorate the days when early settlers made friends with the Native Indians. This week, Americans across the country will gather together with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a religious holiday celebrated without religious reservation. Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952) is an Indian guru from India. He introduced millions of westerners to the practice of meditation. Yogananda said: “Every day should be a day of Thanksgiving for all the gifts of Life — for sunshine, water, and the luscious fruits and greens which we receive as indirect gifts from the Great Giver.” Creating an attitude of gratitude and giving thanks consistently for the abundances we received is important. If you have a healthy body, a family that loves you, a few good friends, food on your table, and roof over your head, you are richer than you think. There are different versions of Thanksgiving Day story (see references). Some are positive and others are not so positive. No matter which version we choose to believe, we should always count our blessings and be thankful for what we have. Be kind to our land and all living beings and not take things for granted. In the end only kindness matters. * America, A Nation of Immigrants. A History of Immigration: 1880 - today https://youtube/watch?v=yMaKzQBtJyk I wish every one a wonderful and safe holiday weekend. .......................................................................................... References: Bates, S. (n.d.). The Real Story of Thanksgiving. Manataka American Indian Council. Retrieved from manataka.org/page269.html Bradshaw, W.B. (2012.). The Real Story of Thanksgiving. Huff Post Religion. Retrieved from huffingtonpost/…/remember-the-blessings-of-t… James, M. & Munro, M. (2012). Thanksgiving: A National Day of Mourning for Indians. United American Indians of New England. Retrieved from uaine.org/dom.htm Unknown. (n.d.). The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony. U.S. History: Pre-Columbian to the New Millennium. Retrieved from ushistory.org/us/3a.asp Gladys Wong, MIM, CMT. HealthHealingEnergy .......................................................................................... WE ARE ONE: Our speech and actions impact on the ecosystem and the world around us. Together, we make the world a better place. *Your kids follow your example not your advice. Think before we speak. Think before we act. Share knowledge with your friends and loved ones: Educating yourself does not mean that you were stupid in the first place; it means that you are intelligent enough to know that there is plenty left to learn. — Melanie Joy .......................................................................................... Think Beyond Ourselves . Embrace Diversity Be Part of the Transformation . Join Hands . Give Back to the Community . Pave Way for Next Generation. Change starts from self: Be the change you want to see in the world ~Mahatma Gandhi~ Disclaimer: The information presented by Healthhealingenergy is intended to motivate and educate individuals, to promo health and self-awareness for personal growth. If you enjoy this post, share it with your friends and loved ones.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 04:58:30 +0000
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