This weekend we take time to pause, reflect, and contemplate all things for which we are thankful. For many of us, Thanksgiving will involve a much-anticipated meal with turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. Of course, for dessert, there will be pumpkin pie adorned with whipped topping or ice cream. It is fitting that at the height of the local harvest season, we remember all those farmers and producers who work the land. We share in the fruits of their labour, but more often than not neglect to be thankful for what we receive.
Being thankful is something that definitely should happen on a regular basis. Alas, in our far too often “it’s all about me” society, we tend to be less thankful and more likely to take things for granted. We too easily become complacent and tend not to ‘rock the boat.’ Often in seeking that familiar path of least resistance, we get set in our ways and miss out on those golden moments when a simple ‘thank you’ or kind gesture could go a long way in making someone’s day.
There is a danger in complacency. There is a real threat that can manifest. It comes in the form of blissful oblivion. This is the mindset that occurs when we feel that someone else will take care of our problems, or worse that we have better, more important things to do than help look after the least of our sisters and brothers. How do we prevent this selfish mindset? Maybe we can look to Grade 10 literature for a simple reminder.
Atticus Finch reminds his daughter, Scout, that in order to truly understand another person’s worldview, we need to be able to walk around in their skin for a while. In paraphrasing Harper Lee’s classic story, To Kill a Mockingbird, I simply hope to stress the very obvious: we all need to be able to see beyond ourselves and consider the plight of others. In having empathy for others we can be moved towards compassion. In being compassionate to others, we can move towards assisting the very real needs of those in society who need our very real support. There are many ways to achieve this.
Volunteering is perhaps the most practical way to give the gift of your time and talent to others. Lending a hand to Habitat for Humanity or lending your voice to a church choir, writing a letter of support for a worthy cause, canvassing for a charity, helping at the local food bank, being a coach or mentor to youth, or assisting our veterans are but a few ways of giving back to the “village” that helped raise us once upon a time. It is important to give back.
Yesterday our new premier, Alison Redford, was sworn into office. Her commitment to restoring funding to education will be the much-needed support in ensuring that our ‘modern village’ can raise the best citizens possible. Should this promise become reality, it would be the best type of advocacy seen in a while. It would be tremendous cause for thanksgiving because inherent to investing in our youth comes the notion that we investing in a brighter future for all. Providing robust educational opportunities for all is the much-needed gravy that lends this Thanksgiving season a very hopeful and optimistic flavour.
So, let’s remember to say thank you for our many blessings. St. Albert is a great place to live. Let’s take time to pause, reflect and pay a little kindness forward.
And if for some reason that gravy does not come to the table ... we will still have turkey.
Tim Cusack is thankful for friends and family.
