The Foundation of Thanksgiving

It is early Thanksgiving morning and I am watching the morning news. Of course, many of the stories are about the importance of this holiday and the reflections of gratitude. One story that caught my attention however, was from a local shelter and food pantry. The reporter was showing the preparation of the many meals this shelter will serve today. One person being interviewed said they had volunteered at this shelter for many years and always feel good about feeding the many people who come for dinner……and this got me thinking.

With all the attention we pay on the turkey and the meals we will have, I think we often miss the most basic aspect of Thanksgiving - the people we eat with. Of course the food we consume plays an important role symbolizing the nurturing aspect, and the gratitude of having food to eat. The abundance of the harvest, and the notion that we have worked hard to get what we have is certainly pause for celebration.

Yet it is really the people around us, our relationships and social capital , that I believe is at the foundation of Thanksgiving. The fact that these relationships are really at the core of any success we might enjoy seems to be the missing element in many of our Thanksgiving celebrations.

So today, when you gather for your meal, enjoy the food, but recognize that the most important variable for Thanksgiving are the people you are sitting around. More, recognize this with a toast and relish in the conversations and camaraderie. Thanksgiving is really a celebration of social capital!