Lessons in Gratitude: How My Mother Taught Me the True Meaning of Thanksgiving

As the crisp autumn air weaves its way through the golden foliage, memories of Thanksgivings past flood my mind.??

It's in these precious recollections that I find the essence of the holiday, a tapestry woven with the threads of love, gratitude, and the joy of shared traditions.??

More importantly, these reflections make me turn inwards and appreciate the lessons these fond memories taught me.???

You see, for me, Thanksgiving is a time where I reflect on the lessons my mother gave me and which led me to be the individual before you today. My Mom was my professional mentor, my best friend and my biggest fan.???

Which is why I want to take the time this Thanksgiving to use this piece of my series This I Promise You as a tribute to the woman who inspired me and whose lessons still live on in me.???

So, join me and learn some of the lessons she gave me for yourself:???

Lesson 1: Everyday Gratitude Practices?

The picture above is my mom’s handwriting in her “Gratitude Journal” that she wrote in every night before bed. The task...…at the end of the day, write down five things she was thankful for.?

Lesson 2: Leading by Example?

Even during a not-so-great breast cancer diagnosis, she still managed to find things she was thankful for and had an entry for every day up until 6 weeks before she passed away.?

Lesson 3: Facing Challenges with Gratitude?

As a parent, I have often wished I could ask my Mom for advice.? I have longed to ask her if what I am doing is the right thing, and sometimes even ask myself…. “am I a good Mom???”? And there it was in the March 29th entry of her aforementioned gratitude journal…..nestled in between “thankful for positive mental attitude” and “thankful for learning Qijong” …….in my mom’s own handwriting…. “good talk w/Holly – good mother”.???Even in death, my mom still manages to influence who I am and show up as each day.

Carrying Forward the Legacy?

My mom has been gone for 14 years.? During one of our last conversations, she shared her fears with me.? She didn’t fear dying.? She feared that her grandchildren would not remember her.? Since her passing 14 years ago, especially during the holidays, I remind my children of times spent with her. I remind them of her upbeat and positive attitude and ability to always find something to be thankful for.?

It is so easy to focus on the negative and what is going wrong.? When I find myself heading down that path, I try to remind myself that if a woman dying of breast cancer can still find 5 things to be thankful for at the end of the day, then so can all of us.??

In this busy season, I hope you enjoyed this article and found it encouraging. My hope is that my own mother’s lessons can be an example of how to be truly thankful and live your life by acknowledging there is always something to be grateful for.? My Mom shaped my outlook on life and how I show up each day. Because, for her, Thanksgiving was not just a day; but a way of life.

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