From Halloween to Thanksgiving: A Season of Health and Gratitude
The weeks between the last week of October and the third week of November are a blur of planning for two major feasts, Halloween and Thanksgiving. These two holidays provide a time to focus on the relationships between joy, health, and gratitude. They may appear to be worlds apart as one is filled with an awareness of the otherworld and the unknown whereas the other is centred on thanks. However, both teach us the value of self-care, appreciating others who support our well-being, and expressing gratitude for the bounty in our life.
Health and Gratitude in the Season of Abundance
Halloween, which originated in ancient harvest rituals, was a time to prepare for the winter months ahead. Communities celebrated the abundance of their crops, grateful that the harvest ensured they had enough to last through the winter. Every pumpkin on a porch and every treat in a child's basket represents the collaborative work required to nurture and sustain us.
As November moves on to the American feast of Thanksgiving, the theme of gratitude is reinforced. It is time to reflect not only on the food on our tables, but also on the people and systems that enable such plenty. Farmers grow our food, healthcare professionals keep us well, and many others make sure we have what we need. Thanksgiving is, then, more than simply food; it's a celebration of the intertwined web of care and labour that keeps us healthy.
Acknowledging the Helpers in Our Lives
Health isn’t just about diet and exercise—it’s also about the emotional and mental support we get from others. While Christmas often gets the spotlight for gift-giving and showing appreciation, I think Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on and thank the people who make our lives less stressful every day.
How much harder would life be without healthcare professionals to care for us or teachers to educate our children? The post arrives like clockwork, but how often do we pause to appreciate the hard work of postal workers and delivery drivers juggling hectic schedules?
And then there are so many behind-the-scenes heroes—the workers we rarely see but whose efforts keep everything running smoothly. From maintaining our infrastructure to managing logistics, their contributions are so seamless we often don’t even realize how much they improve our daily lives. I am constantly amazed at how my website keeps up to date, but it is Bernice, my genius of a web designer, www.berniceebenezer.com, who keeps it all humming nicely in the background Even small gestures of kindness, —someone holding a door open for you when you are laden down with shopping, or a cheerful greeting from a neighbour—can contribute to our mental health. These moments remind us of the importance of human connection in fostering overall well-being.
Thanksgiving is then a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge this wider web of people whose efforts keep our world moving and make our lives just a little bit easier.
Gratitude and Its Impact on Health
Gratitude itself is a powerful tool for health. Research indicates that thankfulness can reduce stress, help sleep and even strengthen the immune system. Whether it's a good dinner, a friend's encouragement, or a peaceful moment of rest—taking time to appreciate what we have instead of what we lack will help us to change our perspective.
Saying gratitude can also help to improve connections and set off a positive chain reaction. Whether it's a family member who makes a great meal or a colleague who lightens our workload, when we thank individuals around us, we create relationships that will help us through the highs and lows of life. So, Happy Thanksgiving, from the other side of the pond and may your season be filled with health, joy, and gratitude!
Take Your Health and Gratitude to the Next Level This Thanksgiving
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