Our own script of Thanksgiving

It was, coincidentally, the day after the election results when my students and I discussed why it is important to stop and reflect on all we are thankful for.

~ ~ ~

"It is so easy to focus on all of the bad in our lives that we forget to focus on all the good." 

"The more we look at what we have in our lives, the more kind we are." 

"Even when bad things are going on, we can see there is always good going on in our lives, too." 

"When we are thankful, our hearts are fuller." 

~ ~ ~

Those were just a few of the answers students blurted with very little leading or prompting. 

A little background to this discussion: on November 1 my students started logging one thing each day they are thankful for. They will do this each day until we leave for Thanksgiving break. This gives them about 15 days of logs of which they cannot repeat a post. I haven't exactly explained all the learning targets or objectives for this writing activity (yes teachers, I know this isn't the way we are told to teach), I've just let them write and I've been surprised at how deep my student's hearts of gratitude have dug. 

I'm thankful for

my blanket

my family

my home

my bed

my free education

teachers who care

my grandparents who take care of me while my mom is sick

my dad's job

my bike to get me places

my little sister because she is all I have

food in my refrigerator

books to read -the ability to read.

music to calm my mind and heart

shoes

clean water

and the list goes on

The comments from above came last Wednesday morning when I asked my students why they thought I would have them do such a writing activity. I stood proud and surprised as I listened to them rattle off all the insight I hoped they would glean from such an activity. It is not that I am surprised when my students give me smart and insightful answers; they teach and help me glean new insight often. Instead, I wished I could have recorded their mature answers for the world to hear. For America to hear... (the dot dot dot is so necessary as I could diverge here into a hundred different tangents, but will refrain.) 

In an effort to not spin this into a political post, I want to keep this post focused on the upcoming holiday when we each write our own script of thanksgiving. A day where we hopefully laugh, unite, cook, eat, and be merry. Where we reflect on all we are thankful for. Where we enjoy our loved ones. Cherish the home we have toiled for. Embrace the moments which will soon be memories. Hug and kiss the necks of those who walk day-in and day-out with us. Give thanks for the abundant blessings that have been bestowed upon us. Because there are so many. 

As my students said, even when it seems like there is so much to complain about, 

let us focus on all the good we have in our lives because there is truly so much. 

I'm more excited for this Thanksgiving holiday than ever before because I need it. I need to move my mind into a season of gratitude. I need to be thankful because there is so much to be thankful for. 

So I raise my figurative glass to you and toast:

May this be a Thanksgiving season like none other. 

When we embrace a thankful spirit,  

 lean into the good 

and let go of any other.



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If you would like to spend more time reading and thinking about Thanksgiving, check this post out from a few years ago: Dear Gratitude