Rhubarb Report: Episode 28

Today’s Rhubarb Report really isn’t about rhubarb. Come to think of it, it really is about rhubarb, the kind you would consume on a day like today – Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving in Canada is actually Columbus Day in the United States. Many things remain the same: turkey dinner, time with friends and family, and pumpkin pie. Don’t forget the football games.

Back in my youth, we would often spend Thanksgiving with my father’s parents. My grandmother would always create a huge meal. Fresh vegetables would come from her own garden. Dinner was always tremendous, but dessert was second to none.

Of course, when in the United States, do as your fellow Americans do, and that means celebrate Thanksgiving in November. And as I would always say, if it means an extra turkey dinner, celebrate it on Canadian Thanksgiving as well.

Seriously though, this day is about so much more than just turkey and football. It is about giving thanks. So let’s throw away the standard format for the Report, and get down to what is really important on a day like today.

I am thankful for having the life experiences that I have had. It doesn’t matter whether the experiences were good or bad, happy or sad. They made me who I am today. We can’t change the past, but we can embrace it and learn from it. Life experiences give us some great learning and growth experiences, as long as we can allow ourselves to do so.

I am thankful for today, known as "the present", because of the gift that it truly is for all of us. Do we ever know that we have tomorrow, or the next day? No. But I have right now, and I am thankful for that.

I am thankful for each moment that I have to share with the people that bring joy and happiness to my existence. We can be overly concerned about “stuff”, but the moments we have with those we love are priceless.

I am thankful for the capacity to love, to experience joy and happiness, to be vulnerable yet strong. The raw emotions of living on this wonderful planet provide us with an exhilarating ride that we must simply embrace with open arms and heart. And when we do, good things happen to us.

On this Thanksgiving Day, give thanks to the people in your world. Embrace them. Thank them. And be better for it.

Photo credits: Wikipedia