Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Angela Mayah Solstice

I just got off the phone with my grandmother. She shared with me how her son, my uncle, was going to spend Thanksgiving alone just him and his son. I could tell she was trying to sound optimistic but I knew the thought of it hurt her. He moved away to another state during his divorce and I believe my grandmother took the divorce very hard. I shared with her that I had holidays like that post divorce. In fact, one Thanksgiving I purposely did it on my own, just me and my girls. I didn’t search frantically for ways to compensate for the lack of family around us nor did I allow myself to slip into self pity. I made plans and created a holiday just for us. It was a turning point for me and a great confidence builder. 

Believe it or not I struggle with being grateful! Ha! In fact, I am on week 5 of Oprah's Lifeclass with  Dr. Brene Brown on The Gifts Of Imperfection. It’s all about gratitude this week and I’ve found myself feeling highly irritated! I can do beating up on myself and looking for problems in my life with natural ease—what’s been hard is being gentle with myself and being grateful. I’m sure I am not alone, and if you are struggling today I encourage you to be gentle with yourself to. I encourage you to find at least one thing you’re grateful for today. I encourage you to make this day however YOU would want it to be, remembering , there is no right or wrong way. If all you do is give one hour of your undivided attention to a loved one today—you have done more than most will do today. I encourage you to pray or to meditate. To look in the mirror and say to your self , “I love you.” Be grateful for the food you eat today, if it’s a feast fit for a King, or just enough. Be grateful for whoever is surrounding you right now, if it’s one person or many. Remember you are loved and you are important!

I am mindful of so many this day. I send you all my love and blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Angela

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