Being Thankful…For A Day Of Thanks

Thankful for all the beauty in the world

Thanksgiving is a deeply American holiday and being a full-bred Dane I never celebrated or even knew about this day before moving here in 1992. Apart from copious quantities of food and quality time spent together (which is always fun, no matter what the occasion) the thing that most endeared me to this day was the idea of giving thanks.

Now this is a not a new concept for me. As part of my life-long pursuit of happiness I’ve made affirmations and giving thanks a daily inner practice for myself. I believe everyone should do this everyday because happiness, like depression, is a self-fulfilling circle….and by consciously making a choice between the two, and actively pumping those bliss-buildin’ mind muscles, you make it so (very dramatic I know, but I’m speaking from experience here…on both sides of the equation).

But what’s unique about Thanksgiving is the idea of doing this out loud, and with your friends and family around you. So on this day, with all of you as witness, I give my thanks

Thankful for My Life

I’m thankful for the lessons of the past
And thankful for the open paths of the future

I’m thankful for the choices I’ve been offered
And thankful for the freedom to make them

I’m thankful to love
And thankful for those who love me

I’m thankful for happiness
And thankful for the chance to choose it

And I’m deeply thankful for this moment to be here…
Giving thanks to you…
Right now

Nina Fussing, Nov 2012

Thankful For My Life (and Flying Off Again…)

Everything I want is right here!

Well, Thanksgiving is almost upon us. This interesting little tradition was something I’d never even heard of until I moved to the US in 1992. Personally I love turkey and all its’ associated delicacies, but history and food aside I came to understand that this holiday has a deeper meaning for many people. It’s a time of reflection on all that you are thankful for and that message is certainly one I can relate to.

Life is a beautiful thing

As I sit here in my RV with an expansive view of desert mountains through my front window, my lovely (and incredibly handsome I might add) hubby beside me and 12 wonderful paws sleeping happily in the rig I have to admit that I’m so very thankful for all I’ve got. And I love it exactly the way it is.

During our drive to Phoenix a few days back I asked Paul if we suddenly had unlimited funds would we do anything different? We both agreed that likely not. We might upgrade the rig with some snazzy stuff, help out family, donate to some more charities…but essentially I’d still want to be wheelin’it across the country just like we’ve been doing the past 2 years. Really I would.

Where I'll be next week (map from Wikipedia)

Tomorrow morning I’ll be leaving my cozy home and flying off for a week on yet another grand adventure to see my family at the small Portuguese Island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s an early celebration of my mom’s 70′th birthday and will be quite the fabulous experience (fear not, I’ll be reporting back). Yet something else to be thankful for.

So, as life moves forward and the past recedes I can only mimic the words from one of my all-time-favorite movies (Joe Vs the Vocano). As Joe floats shipwrecked on the ocean he raises his arms to the moon and says ”thank you for my life”. My goal is to always feel that way, and my hope is that you do too.

Memories of Turkey in the RV

Paul and his dad proudly display the turkey

It’s been a few days since Thanksgiving but the left-overs are still teasing us from the fridge and, let’s face it, the memories of turkey are as fresh as the day the bird left the fryer. So, in that light I feel justified in sharing a few pics of the big day, despite the delay. It was, indeed, a day of firsts. Our first time spending Thanksgiving in the RV, our first deep-fried turkey (at least for hubby & I), and the first celebration for Polly (our doggie) who was simply beside herself with the aromas of the whole thing.

All at the table and ready to eat!

The beauty of it all is that it went so smoothly. We set-up the deep-fryer on the grassy area between our two RV’s (Paul’s dad’s and our own), collected the family, including Paul’s 90-year old grandfather, and spread out luxuriously in the massive space of green that we have here at Markham Park. Add-in some tunes, a good portion of beans and rice (gotta have the Cuban touch, after all) and a few glasses of wine, and the whole thing was really most festive. I can honestly say the turkey was delicious (deep-frying is definitely the way to go), and the company excellent. After an experience like this, why would you want to spend Thanksgiving anywhere else? I’ll be back to more gripping RV tales on the blog tomorrow, but in the meantime hope you’ve have a delicious week-end!

A Day of Thanks

Thank you for all the beauty in life

Well, we’ve made it to Thanksgiving. This year, for the first time ever, we’ll be spending it in our RV, together with Paul’s dad who’s rolled up in his own “beast” right next to us at Markam Park, FL. It’s the time of year when the turkey comes out, pumpkin reigns supreme and we take a few moments to think of the things we are thankful for in life.

I never knew what all this Thanksgiving business was about until I moved over to the US. It’s a new-world tradition that roots back to the time of the pilgrims and a harvest feast that was shared in  1621 between the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians. Over the years the feast became a tradition and in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

So, here we are, and in the midst of a world that seems to thrive on sensational and negative news, I really like the idea of sharing thanks for the things we feel are positive in life. I’m reminded of a scene in “Joe vs the Volcano” where Joe Banks, shipwrecked and close to dying sees the glorious moon-rise and breaks down with the heartfelt words “Dear God whose name I do not know, thank you for my life”.  So, here I go;

Thank you for all the beauty
Thank you for all the sunsets
Thank you for all the breath-taking views
Thank you to those I meet who enrich my life
Thank you for the people I love and those who love me
Thank you for those moments that take my breath away
And above all….
Thank you so very much for my beautiful life

Have a wonderful turkey-day everyone!