"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."
William Arthur Ward
Thanksgiving is upon us, the holiday dates back to November 1621. The first thanksgiving was on the heals of tragedy of a harsh winter with many dying including 78% of the women who traveled on the Mayflower. This left around 50 colonists to attend the first Thanksgiving: 22 men, 4 women, and over 25 children and teenagers. The Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth in the first Thanksgiving.
The menu most likely consisted of deer from the Wampanoag, local seafood, fruits and pumpkin from the first pilgrim harvest. No mashed potatoes though as potatoes hadn’t made it to North America yet.
Pilgrims shared their first harvest with the Wampanoag as a thank you for saving them from starvation in the previous winter.
To learn a little more about the possible menu for the first thanksgiving check out this article from the history channel:
https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/first-thanksgiving-meal
During this time of year it is a reminder to reflect and choose to be grateful for something. When we choose to be grateful it can transform our thinking, our feelings, our actions. Today we can be a blessing to someone around us as the Wampanoag’s were to the Pilgrims.
Who will you choose to be a blessing to and possibly change their life for the better?