Thanksgiving 2020

Hello All,

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, so I couldn’t let the day pass without saying “Hello!” and “Thank you!” (I will bother you again tomorrow with the regular edition of PhylPhacts!)

Amy Leigh Mercree, author of The Compassion Revolution,  said “Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude.” I know this year has been incredibly tough. We have faced events that are unprecedented – we have faced immense changes personally, professionally, culturally – we have sacrificed to keep everyone as healthy as possible. And even with all of that, we have rediscovered the importance of family and friends, of faith, of service to others, of communication (even technologically assisted!), of self and of gratitude.  

We have so many reasons to thankful today. For our families and friends. For the incredible people in all areas of healthcare – including researchers who have devoted so much this year to finding a vaccine for Covid. For the people in our public health system who have worked to keep us healthy even as the world changed. For our military men and women who keep us and many others across the world safe and enjoying freedom. For all of the first responders who brave their lives to keep all of our communities safe from harm and ill health. For the truck drivers and all people across the supply chain that have worked around the clock to be sure our needs were met – this includes FedEx, UPS and Amazon drivers (my husband contends we have may have seen a few too many of them on the front porch!). To everyone in education who have literally turned their structures upside down to keep a whole spectrum of ages educated. To everyone involved in the food and restaurant industry who have dealt with incredible changes and still found ways to keep us fed. There are so many others to thank, so…..

…..there have been many times in my life that I have been grateful for the words of Charles Schultz, the creator of Charlie Brown. Like the beloved Dr. Seuss, he shared messages of inclusion, gratefulness and love in his comics. So in Charlie Brown’s words – “What if today we were just grateful for everything?”

What indeed! Today I am grateful for every person – for every thing – for our country and our fellow citizens across the globe – for every thought – for every dream – for every prayer we make – for hugs, unity, peace, joy, laughter and love.

May your Thanksgiving be exceptional! Thank you for the gift of you.

Phyl