Song of the day:
I’m thankful for the spirit of Thanksgiving*. For time to slow down, to stop working for a minute, to reflect and express thanks for so many things. I’ve shared many of those things over the last few weeks here, and today will be my last post for the month. I’m thankful that my mom, aka The Mother, arrives this morning and will be here for a week. I’m thankful to have five days away from work, plus the weekend, to spend with her.
*I’ve found it hard to get excited about Thanksgiving over the last few years, as I’ve done more reading and reflecting about how the Native American people have been treated in this country. This 2020 post from the Potawatomi Nation makes it clear that much of what we learned about Thanksgiving as kids wasn’t exactly how things occurred.
“While many [Native Americans] will continue getting together with friends and loved ones to celebrate and recognize the gifts provided since the year before, incorporating traditional ingredients and recipes as well as teaching the factual history can go a long way in healing and restoring the Native narrative within the American culture.”
One way to learn more about the Native American people is to learn whose land you’re on. This site is a great resource for that. I encourage you to check it out.
Whatever you’re planning for Thanksgiving, I hope you enjoy time with yourself, friends or family - or all of the above! And if you learn anything new, share it in the comments!
Video of the day:
Hoping you days around Thanksgiving are meaningful. We will be with the Hughes in Spearfish.