Saying Grace
Wherever you may celebrate Thanksgiving to-day and whoever you share the table with, be it with family or friends, I’d like to make a suggestion: before you dig into your food and celebrate, take a moment of reflection and join together by saying grace.
Abraham Lincoln anchored Thanksgiving as a national holiday at the height of the Civil War to “heal the wounds of the nation (…) to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.” I can’t think of a better aspiration to join hands at the supper table in our politically and culturally divisive times.
Saying grace doesn’t need to be a religious exercise. It may just as well be a simple affirmation of gratitude for enjoying a special day with loved ones. Or you may simply want to acknowledge that the feast you’re about to enjoy has been made possible by people you are — however indirectly — related to. The turkey farmer, the person who’s picked your potatoes and tomatos, the truck driver who’s delivered the produce to your local supermarket, the cashier who checked out your purchase.
You have a connection to all of them, and taking a step back to acknowledge that you’re not an island but sustained by a web of meaningful relationships is a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving!
— Felix Grisebach is the co-founder of the Arkadia Academy for Self-Discovery™ in Santa Monica, Calif.
