Thanksgiving in my life

I grew up in Mexico; thus, I never experienced Thanksgiving. The only exposure I had was related to the football games that happened on that Thursday in November. Thanksgiving meant football and sportscasters who were talking and eating turkey. The first time that I experienced this tradition was in 1997 when I was living in California, working as an expatriate during my first international assignment. It was nice to sit down with friends and express our gratitude. Now, to be completely honest, it was only a nice dinner with friends. Nothing more. Nothing deep or different from other encounters with friends and family, either formal or informal. Still, something hanged around in my unconscious. I wanted a different experience, but I wasn’t sure how. 

 Some years later, around 2005, back in my home country, I asked my wife if she wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner, and she graciously agreed. I wanted to give myself a second chance to re-experience this tradition more profoundly. Again, nothing magic, but this time something had changed. I think it had to do with my two daughters being around, so we decided to celebrate this ritual every year. I believe that it was until I started to train my gratitude muscle that I have been able to experience Thanksgiving mindfully and spiritually - eureka! I was able to define the how that I was not capable of determining back then. 

 I have been able to rewire my brain by purposely investing time and energy to express my gratitude for all the things that happen in my life, especially things and people that challenge me. This Thursday, together with my family and close friends, I am looking forward to thanking the Lord for all blessings that he vested upon us. The world is not perfect; my world is not perfect, but today my mental model is different, and I have found sufficient reasons to wish you and everyone immense blessings, and by doing this consciously express my gratitude.