While the nation was ThanksEating...

I was accused of trying to take away Thanksgiving last week.

I was merely questioning an individual's perceived purpose of the holiday. I observed countless posts, tweets, and picture uploads of well-fed peers continuing on about food like they haven't had a morsel in their mouth for days. Doubt grew within me about whether all of these Americans truly love turkey, stuffing, corn, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, ham, yams, sweet potato and pumpkin pie so very much. Would this spread be requested as a last meal, because people surely act as if this one day of the year brought all of their most cherished dishes. As if this one day of the year was the only opportunity to eat this particular meal.

Now, I understand tradition. I understand the opportunities for days off work, travel, and family get together created by a national day reserved for....eating. Yet is that the only purpose? Travel across the country for a meal with the family that we rarely make time for, for a meal that we are capable of cooking any time of the year. Let's not forget, right after we are done giving thanks and over eating-- let's show off our consumerism even more by engaging in Black Friday shopping where people don't seem so thankful and traditional anymore.

I propose a new tradition. Next year, spend money on turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, yams, and pies. Spend time in the kitchen preparing an impressive spread and put gas into your car for a drive. Then serve your feast to a family or group of people who truly have not had a morsel in their mouth for days. Perhaps split the food and leave some at home for you to enjoy with your family later in the day. But GIVE. If you have much to be thankful for, why not spread that onto others.

I have a feeling that many Americans would not give as much time, money, and care to the meal they prepare if they knew it was not going to feed their own family. Would you still do homemade stuffing or just fluff a box of Stove Top for the poor? That pie...are you going to make your own crust or buy the $2.98 finished pie from the store if it's for the "less fortunate." Do only your family and friends deserve your carefully selected ingredients and self-made creations? I challenge you to spread the same quality and quantity for others. If you have much to be thankful for, take the time next year to then partake in the other half of the holiday's name and allow forgotten populations to also engage in this national holiday afforded to, yet not experienced by, all citizens.

My sister served a Thanksgiving meal to the homeless last week and a young boy about 7 years old had never heard of  or had gravy before. Whoa - who thought that gravy might be a luxury item, it humbled me.

Next year...I will not partake in ThanksEating. I will be ThanksGiving.

No legacy will flatline

Let the dead continue to evoke change.

When brain activity discontinues, a heart stops beating, and lungs no longer fill with air-- death occurs. A life will no longer leave traces of fingerprints, fallen hair, or a scent upon clothes. A voice becomes mute, a laughter becomes silenced, and a smile never curls into perfect place again. Peace is wished upon the deceased, but often havoc stirs up in the hearts of the living.

104 days ago a friend died. 108 days ago a friend died. I wrestled with the passing of two young, smiling and inspirational people. I wrestled with the pain I observed in the people effected by the loss of a great woman and a great man. After roughly a week of both mournful and joyous reflection, inspiration peeked out from the memories of these two.

Let the dead continue to evoke change.

Take a lesson learned from a person who passes and let it influence how you go on through the world. Let the deceased continue their legacy through the living. No lesson is too small to be of value, no change is too little to be of impact. May peace wash over the lives still living as the memories, stories, pictures, and lessons create even the slightest inspiration of resolution.

Let the dead continue to evoke change...and find your peace to share with the world on behalf of another.