Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I still remember my family’s first Thanksgiving eight months after we arrived from Poland. I was in first grade and came home to tell my parents, who barely spoke English, that we needed to buy a turkey. They didn’t know what I was referring to because there are no turkeys in Poland, so I drew a picture of a “big chicken.”
Growing up in the Bronx in the 1970s was “enlightening.” My first memories were of Vets returning from Vietnam who came to my dad’s store to order extra sweet egg creams when they were nodding out on heroin. The other strong memory I have from growing up in the Bronx in the 70s was coming home from school to buildings burning. Just around the corner, where a few of my friends lived, large buildings were destroyed by fires daily.
These early experiences taught me to be grateful and to celebrate all the good things in our lives.
I want to share a few tips for celebrating Thanksgiving during these challenging times.
Focus on what you can control. For me this starts with managing my mind. If we don’t manage our mind, especially during difficult times, we become overwhelmed by all the bad things we see on the news, and this stops us from taking the very actions that make us feel in control of our lives.
Every day I train my mind to focus on the good. This looks like noticing a red light that turns green just as I get to the corner, or commenting on a post about a client getting promoted. Tony Robbins always says, “The bad is always available and so is the good!”
Be (extra) kind. People everywhere are struggling and as a Jewish refugee whose family fled antisemitism, I can tell you many of us are deeply frightened. Hate kills and kindness heals.
Take every opportunity you have to be kind. This could be reaching out to a colleague and asking how they’re feeling and just listening. As humans we are wired for community. Feeling alone or abandoned makes us feel unsafe. This applies to the un-housed person you pass on the street. Smiling at them and making them feel seen could feel like a gift.
Express gratitude. Fear and gratitude cannot coexist. Practicing gratitude is more important than ever. Thanksgiving week is a great time to write a note to a mentor who has been instrumental in your career or a supervisor who has provided you with growth opportunities. The act of writing these notes and expressing gratitude is likely to bring you joy.
I share all of this with you as we approach Thanksgiving because I am deeply grateful to live a magnificent life, that includes a beautiful home by the ocean with a white picket fence, and to have the most amazing clients that allow me to serve them and do work I love. Thank you!!