Skip to main content

What I'm Thankful For

My holiday weekend was a little bit different this year...

With our families being 4+ hours away, and Dee having to work retail Thanksgiving day, Eli and I got to spend some much needed quality time together.  There was no turkey, no mashed potatoes, no stuffing, no pumpkin pie, no family gathering...just me and lil' man hanging out!  I took advantage of this self-care day - I caught up on some reading, watched movies, cooked a meal, knitted a hat (yep - this is something I NEVER thought I'd ever try), and of course played with a toddler. 

Even though I was not surrounded by mine or Dee's extended family, I still know I have a lot to be grateful for.  I spent some part of Thanksgiving reading articles, blog posts & social media accounts on the unfiltered history behind this national holiday, and it truly put in perspective the hardships others (Native Americans, for example) had to suffer in order for my very presence to exist in this country.  I'm not proud of this portion of our country's history (or slavery, for that matter) but the least I can do is become more educated on historical events, and not be complacent with the sugar-coated history lessons we're taught in school.


I will not even pretend I'm an expert on this topic, so I will re-share an Instagram post by @theconsciouskid, that I also shared on my personal account:

#Repost @theconsciouskid
・・・
"This holiday can be sugar-coated as much as people like to justify colonial violence, but note that it is a painful, annual reminder of our genocide and white supremacy — two of the very foundations of this country, alongside slavery. This day is viewed as the National Day of Mourning by several Native communities, which was started as a protest in 1970 — organized by the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) to honor our ancestors and highlight the struggles they endured then to modern times, as well as the acknowledgement of the racism and oppression experienced today.

To me, Thanksgiving is a reminder of our resistance as Indigenous People navigating this settler society that continuously tries to erase and destroy us, yet we are still here. I will spend it honoring my ancestors and their fight for survival." -Full @papermagazine article by Allen Salway is posted to our FB page or can be accessed via the link in @lilnativeboy's profile. Thanks for posting about this article @itsybitsyresisters. 
#thanksgiving #nativeamerican #native#indigenous #navajo #dayofmourning#resist #resilience #antiracist #decolonize


This post, my blog, and any other site sharing this information is by no means saying Americans SHOULD NOT celebrate 'Giving Thanks' on a yearly basis;  Nor should someone feel the need to hold all the guilt for the acts our ancestors committed.  (White guilt is a real thing).  What this information is hopefully spreading is:
                      1.  Conversation, first & foremost,  and 
                      2.  Increased understanding of the term 'privilege' and why marginalized populations are                             rightly angry.

I also hope that now when you enjoy your paid holiday time off (as I did last week), you'll really tune in to what you are thankful for, and not just forget the sacrifices others have endured for your comforts. 

So what am I especially grateful for this year?
  • My family - especially when my mom makes a surprise visit for an extended girls' weekend!
  • Mine and my family's health
  • New and old friendships
  • Being able to share my passions with my coworkers & clients daily
  • The ability to learn new things, grow as a person & my drive to consistently BE better
  • My fellow humans who are loving, compassionate & kind to ALL
This list could continue on...and on...and on...but I will stop there for yours and my time sake :)  If you're unsure how to start your own gratitude list, I'd definitely recommend keeping a daily journal like I shared HERE to see how much joy (big or little) you can identify in your life.  
-------------------------------------------------------
While United States history hasn't always been 'squeaky clean' or just, I'm hoping that our generation (and those to come) can start making positive changes to improve our future...for all who call themselves Americans.  

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When "Food As Medicine" Isn't Always Helpful

I recently listened to a podcast (I'll share the link below) that really inspired me to write my own post on the topic. Throughout my dietetics career, I myself have spouted the term "Food is your medicine" to clients in a number of different settings.  Let's be honest - it's simple, catchy, almost tongue in cheek; hence why it's used in sooooo many taglines by professionals giving nutrition education.  I think most people who use it aren't intending harm, but rather trying to meet clients or audiences where they are at.  In our dietetics curriculum, we are taught that there are many health benefits to consuming a variety of nutrients, so at the surface level, treating what you eat as "medicine" might feel useful at first. So where could this otherwise harmless statement actually become harmful ?  In my experience working with disordered eating patients, "Food as medicine" can become a way for the ED to twist and factualize the client...
4 comments
Read more

What Health at Every Size REALLY Means

The Health at Every Size movement (also known by it's acronym, HAES) has a mission to provide compassionate health care to ALL.  Straight from it's web resource www.haescommunity.com : " Health at Every Size® principles help us advance social justice, create an inclusive and respectful community, and support people of all sizes in finding compassionate ways to take care of themselves. But first, let's start from the beginning.  In 2010, before this was considered a "movement," Dr. Linda Bacon wrote & published the book Health at Every Size , which was based on her groundbreaking research to de-stigmatize our society's view on weight and health.  If you try to order a copy of this book online, its description on Amazon says it all: "Fat isn't the problem.  Dieting is."  Contrary to popular belief, HAES is NOT about foregoing all health and nutrition information - in fact it isn't even anti-weight loss!  Let's dive ...
1 comment
Read more

Patience is a Virtue

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.  I'm also convinced that God places events and people in our lives at exactly the right moments when we need them - making the "when it happened" just as significant as the "what happened." Although the above statements are straight from me, over the past few months my belief in them has been tested.  There have been times I've questioned my true calling, my passions, my "roles" I'm supposed to be in this world...you get the picture.  Things I'd been looking forward to weren't happening as I had hoped, and I was becoming overly anxious and stressed. During this time of questioning I completed a 9-week course through my church called 'CORE' and was surprised by the outcome.  I learned so much about myself, my faith...It even dawned on me that I may not hold the control switch to my life as much as I would like to think I do.  Newsflash to Abbie:  God has his own pl...
2 comments
Read more