We had Thanksgiving dinner this year at our home. It is always fun to have family and friends to celebrate “Hanksgiving” as we call it. Hank turned four on 11-22 and he was still on a roll from his birthday extravaganza. We had the Christmas lights up so it was very festive as the kids played outside in the sixty six degree weather. Exactly what season is it, one could wonder. As dinner progressed we noticed the neighbor on the next hill over was putting up their lights. They already had a backwards N and an O E up and we spent an hour on and off deciding how they could not realize the N was wrong. Hope increased as the L was placed and then the whole word underlined with red lights. Very festive. But the N was still backwards. I walked the dog after everyone had gone home, the 200 pots and pans required for the celebration were clean and to my delight the N was correct. There must be a lesson in this unanimous concern for the correct spelling. We are creatures of habit and the spelling must be as we expect. I have decided to give thanks for the normal blessings and push my creativity a bit in the future.
It did remind me that most of us only have “first world problems”—frustrations and complaints only experienced by privileged individuals in wealthier countries. I have several friends who have recently been to India, they each have remarked about the poverty level they witnessed, each also were amazed at the happiness of those individuals. It seems they are thankful for what they have. As I read a bit about Hinduism and their beliefs there may be a connection to the level of happiness in even the much less fortunate. Hinduism has been variously defined as a religion, a religious tradition, and a set of religious beliefs. It is also said it is not a religion —it is a way of life, a dharma. Dharma refers to one’s way of life and could be seen as one’s life long task; while karma, the steps one has to take to complete the task. It is really quite simple: “dharma is about finding your highest happiness. “
Gandhi is a source of much wisdom. “Where there is love there is life.” He also reminds us “happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in Harmony.” I would conclude with excellent advice to cure our “first world problems.” “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
So much to be thankful for. Enjoy each moment. Mike