Those who work in mental health, child protection, addictions, domestic violence, all know that holiday periods can be stressful for families. Here in Canada we have just had our Thanksgiving day. But for many parts of Canada, there are also economic hardships which are straining personal and family situations. There may not be much of a feeling in some areas around the idea of Thanksgiving.
Commercialization of holidays adds to the strain. Holidays are also times when disconnects from families are poignantly felt - loneliness, heartache, separation are powerful emotional realities. For those with mental health issues of all kinds, these are periods where remaining connected is an important part of getting through. So too is sticking with our care plans.
What is there to give thanks about? For far too many, that is a very difficult question. Those in grief may find it heightens in celebratory times.
As I stood in the grocery store the other day, I saw around me people buying turkeys, flowers and other needs to make the special meal. You could see the plans for bringing family and friends together. There was the anticipation of joy. Earlier in the day, I was in a mall where gifts were being bought.
As I stood in one store, I was struck by the cultural cross section of people I saw before me. These were the faces that represented who we are as a country. How do people from other cultures make sense of what is really a Canadian and American event? How do they make meaning of an event that is also deeply rooted in the Protestant reformation movement? There are some other traditions that connect to early settlers. How does it relate to First Nations, immigrants and those of non-Christian faiths? It is to understand that Thanksgiving is really about thanking the earth for the harvest and the ability to feed ourselves and those around us. The roots may come from various traditions but it is about being thankful.
Thus, in meditation, we contemplate the notion of seeing what we can be grateful for - where might there be gratitude for us? What connections do we have that offer us pathways to being thankful? It very much needs to be about what comes from within which we find in meditation.
Thanksgiving is about love and compassion whichever way you choose to celebrate or enjoy the day.
Reaching In
Out
Across
Finding Connection
Life
Reason
Being Myself
Compassionate
Committed
Honest Emotion
Identity
Relations
Having Gratitude
Thanks
Joy
Commercialization of holidays adds to the strain. Holidays are also times when disconnects from families are poignantly felt - loneliness, heartache, separation are powerful emotional realities. For those with mental health issues of all kinds, these are periods where remaining connected is an important part of getting through. So too is sticking with our care plans.
What is there to give thanks about? For far too many, that is a very difficult question. Those in grief may find it heightens in celebratory times.
As I stood in the grocery store the other day, I saw around me people buying turkeys, flowers and other needs to make the special meal. You could see the plans for bringing family and friends together. There was the anticipation of joy. Earlier in the day, I was in a mall where gifts were being bought.
As I stood in one store, I was struck by the cultural cross section of people I saw before me. These were the faces that represented who we are as a country. How do people from other cultures make sense of what is really a Canadian and American event? How do they make meaning of an event that is also deeply rooted in the Protestant reformation movement? There are some other traditions that connect to early settlers. How does it relate to First Nations, immigrants and those of non-Christian faiths? It is to understand that Thanksgiving is really about thanking the earth for the harvest and the ability to feed ourselves and those around us. The roots may come from various traditions but it is about being thankful.
Thus, in meditation, we contemplate the notion of seeing what we can be grateful for - where might there be gratitude for us? What connections do we have that offer us pathways to being thankful? It very much needs to be about what comes from within which we find in meditation.
The Buddha once said you could search the whole world and not find anyone more deserving of your love and compassion than yourself - Christina Feldman
Thanksgiving is about love and compassion whichever way you choose to celebrate or enjoy the day.
Reaching In
Out
Across
Finding Connection
Life
Reason
Being Myself
Compassionate
Committed
Honest Emotion
Identity
Relations
Having Gratitude
Thanks
Joy
© Peter Choate, 2016
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