Gobble This

I don’t know about you, but with all the world’s focus and attention fixed (if not fixated) on the results of our recent Presidential election, I am ever-so grateful for Thanksgiving’s arrival. No matter which side of the political aisle you sit on, all of us are gifted with this one-day in the year dedicated to giving thanks. This year, though, with so much fear and negativity swirling about, giving thanks may feel more like sucking on a lemon than a welcome tradition. If you fall into the camp of those who feel bereft and defeated in the wake of a decision you wished had gone a different way, I ask you to consider these words:“We become the stories we listen to. But perhaps the more important question is, what stories do you listen to? What stories are forming your life?” (Matthew Kelly)The point here is to pay attention to how and what you’re feeding your mind. If you are mired in the poison of divisive rhetoric, ask yourself why you’re so hungry for feelings that only breed the very things you’re telling yourself you’re standing up against: hate, sabotage, injustice, and the like.   Find a way – however big or small – to use your well-intentioned warrior spirit for the good. Think of someone or something you could turn your attention toward and make a positive contribution. Maybe it’s to buy a prepared meal for someone who won’t have the kind of Thanksgiving you will or maybe instead of reading or posting yet another disgruntled message on social media, you’ll say something kind to someone in real life. You can have an impact any way you want. Choose carefully…and be grateful for your ability to choose at all.