Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Even though I have lived in the US now for well over 20 years, I have not yet quite warmed up to it.
Befuddled is probably the best way to describe my reaction. I understand the tradition of family getting together. I also understand that, at its beginnings, having one day of the year where food is abundant must have felt nothing short of paradise. I realize that those poor pilgrims, sitting there with the Indians and sharing a meal, had no guarantee for another good meal for some time in the future.
That was then. And where are we today?
Sadly, I realize that there are people even here in the US who go hungry and who do not know where their next meal will come from. I also must say that I personally do not know a single person who fits that description. Quite the contrary; almost everybody I know keeps a keen eye on the bathroom scale in the effort to reduce or maintain.
So why do look at the entire holiday season as a gigantic feeding trough as if we were still stuck in the days where you eat when you can, and as much as possible at that, just to have some reserves for the lean times that used to lie ahead?
I want to appeal to everybody reading this to give it just a little thought before sitting down for a huge meal. Take your time to enjoy every bite of it. Usually, even the best meal loses its initial appeal after the first few spoonfuls.
I wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving!
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