"Gratitude is the heart’s memory." — French Proverb
(A few years ago, I received a call from a Native American gentleman in Northern California. Not comfortable with email, he called to thank me for referencing Squanto, a Native American Indian, in my column which gave a sketchy background on Thanksgiving Day and how it came to be a transcendent tradition that is accepted and celebrated among many cultures and religions. Apparently, he had some Filipino friends and must have gotten hold of a copy of Asian Journal from them. I am reprising parts of that original article here.)
I AM beginning to enjoy my decision to tune out of media for the most part. I didn’t realize till now that the remote control is my favorite part of TV. It’s the modern counterpart of the magic wand. With your puny fingertip, you can zap the thing that can color your day black. One can only endure tiny doses of news of the doom and gloom variety particularly on the economy, without having your day ruined for you and your mood messed up. Lucille Ball is the one bright spot. That’s not to say that we should stick our heads in the sand, like ostriches do. It is nearly impossible to be in a bubble. Log on to the net and there is a barrage of news that spill out on your screen, which you can, of course, ignore. Pump your gas and there’s a ubiquitous screen dishing out the news.
The upside of tuning out of broadcast media, in particular, is that you have more time to do the things you want to do. You’re not putty in the hands of the media agenda. You maintain equanimity. Cool, calm and collected, you still get to appreciate the things that still work. Best of all, you are able to count your blessings, and if you can and have the resources, figure out ways and do things in private to help those who have been adversely affected by the economic downturn or if you live in Southern California, by the recent firestorms.
But for all the darkness, there is no better time to be thankful than now. How does one appreciate the light if it were not for darkness? Thoreau once said that the darkness reveals the heavenly lights. Nature teaches us. You can take summer warmth for granted until the frost in the dead of winter bites your soul. On a visceral level, how do you appreciate and be grateful for glorious food if you’ve never known hunger? How do you appreciate and become grateful for pain-free days if you have never felt physical and mental anguish?
This Thanksgiving Day is a good time as any to cultivate the spirit of gratitude for all things and all people that have made our lives worthwhile in the past, those who bless us at the present time and for those we will still meet in the seasons yet to come.
After the first Pilgrims’ harvest in 1621, they celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day with prayerful thanks in front of the food they harvested from the soil. They feasted with Native Americans as honored guests. In good and bad times, this tradition has been preserved and has sustained generations of Americans.
This first batch of immigrants was particularly grateful to Squanto, the Native American and former British slave who, not only acted as interpreter but also taught them the ropes on how to live off and with nature, teaching them how to fish, plant corn and survive the harsh conditions of the frontier. There is strong reason and evidence to believe that without Squanto’s help, this pioneering group may not have survived the rigors of living in a harsh environment during those first critical years. So, all hail to Squanto, for the helping hand he gave to the first immigrants. May his spirit live in us all who can help those in dire straits, in thought, word and deed, particularly during these difficult times.
Thanksgiving Day signals a time to forget our petty concerns, tune out of the noise, confusion and melee that try our souls, and take absolute joy in the moment of being alive. And if you consider yourself blessed, on this day you can take quiet, humble joy in realizing you have that rare gift of one thing more —the gift of a grateful heart. Better yet, make it a daily, lifelong habit. It does wonders.
For those of us among the blessed who will sit down around a special meal with friends and family this Thursday, Thanksgiving Day gives crystal-clear meaning and purpose to our endeavors in the face of current problems and the looming challenges still up ahead.
With the gift of a grateful heart, we know THESE TOO SHALL PASS.
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Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To ask questions, send feedback and requests as well as to inquire about advertising in any or all of the 6 print editions of Asian Journal in California, Nevada and New York/New Jersey and/or advertising in the Print Edition Online of Asian Journal, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you to all readers, particularly to all those who have sent feedback.
( Published on November 26, 2008 Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )
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