Holiday Season
This week ushers in the official Holiday Season,
as far as I'm concerned. I know that if you were like I was this year, I
was astonished to find that the local Walgreen's began filling its shelves with
Christmas merchandise around Halloween! Talk about confusing!
I am old enough to remember a time when the various Holiday seasons not
only enjoyed but seemed restricted to making their respective appearances on
the American scene on clearly designated dates. Not so anymore!
One can routinely walk into a store today and find ghosts, witches, pumpkins
(a truly crossover symbol for both Halloween and Thanksgiving), cornucopia,
Santa Clauses, snowmen, dreidles, Menorah, etc. all crowded on the same shelves
vying for top billing! It's enough to make one pull his hair out!
Oh, wait! I don't have any hair! Regardless, this overlapping of
seasons creates a kind of Holiday
schizophrenia!
It's in the Air!
As I awoke early this morning, I began thinking
about what I would write next. Obviously, the subject of Thanksgiving
took a glaringly prominent position as first on the list of
possibilities. As I perused my copy of the Sunday paper and
sipped my coffee, I realized that others had the same idea. Since this is
officially "Thanksgiving Week" the paper was filled with stories and
articles highlighting various perspectives of giving thanks or finding ways to
reach out to the less fortunate. With the state of the economy, these
articles and stories tended to take on a more serious note than in the past.
Time for an Experiment
I wanted to write something that might cause each
one of us to act on our sentiments of gratitude in ways that could solidify or
create potentially lasting connections with people in our lives — thus my
"Experiment in Thanks-Giving!"
These are my thoughts. We all have people in
our lives that play roles often overlooked or minimized in their importance to
our well-being or ability to carry out our routines. So very often
when we gather with family for Holiday
celebrations and festivities we do so with a sense of tradition and focus on
those closest to us — our families. I know and understand that there are
exceptions to this general description; however, I speak of the majority of
Americans here.
I wonder what might happen if we were to sit down
today and begin making a list of people outside the circle of family — a list
that included those whose lives touch ours each day — whose influence and
contributions to our lives often go unnoticed or overlooked? Who might
appear on such a list? Close friends – certainly! Co-workers or
clients? Those who coach or teach our children? The school
counselor? The principal? Our family physician? The person
who knows our name at the drugstore or local Starbucks? Our dry
cleaner? The guy who routinely changes our oil? Do you get my
drift? There could literally be hundreds of people who might comprise
such a list!
In August 2008, I joined the social networking
phenomenon called "Twitter" and in the months since joining, have
been blown away by the deeply meaningful relationships that have blessed my
life as a result! I can easily count dozens of new people I now cherish
beyond words – people who have and continue to make a difference in my life! Those
folks have made my list. By the way, I have already worked
on my list some today in preparation for this essay.
The second part of the experiment asks us to
consider doing something about those on our list. It requires that we
find a way to express "Thanks" to them for their contributions to our
lives. Silly? Perhaps! Risky? That too! When we venture
to express thanks to people not routinely on our "Thanks" list, we
sometimes run the risk of looking silly or appearing "strange." So be
it!
The Challenge
My challenge for this week is three-fold:
- First, I challenge you
to make a list like the one described above. Include people who
touch your life in ways that make a difference — even if it is a small
difference. Be as inclusive and complete as you possibly can. - Second, determine to
find a way to express your personal gratitude for the contribution those
on your list make in your life. This can be accomplished via a
personal word, a handshake with a word, a card, an email, a letter, a
phone call, a "Tweet" (for those of you who know what that
means), a virtual gift through FaceBook — the possibilities are almost
endless! - Third, actually follow
through on your intentions. It's a little like the concept of
"Paying it Forward" except this is an experiment in
"Thanks-Giving" — giving thanks to the people in our lives
without whose support we might find ourselves lacking in some way.
Many of you will be hearing from me in one form or
another this week. Why? Because you made my list and I am following
through on my own challenge!
Won't you join me in this experiment? Won't
you join me is spreading a little gratitude around? At a time when we need
to feel better about our lives, what could giving a little thanks hurt?
My guess it might actually begin turning things around!
Until next time . . . THANKS . . . and . . .
Peace!
Mark
Copyright 2009 Mark E. Hundley
