Thanksgiving 2008
Dear Friend,
Every year at this time I send a letter to my friends to share a few of my personal thoughts about Thanksgiving. I chose Thanksgiving to send a personal letter since it is one of my two favorite holidays – Christmas being the other. Thanksgiving is special because the act of being thankful has far reaching effects on one’s quality of life. Thanksgiving is also special for Americans because of its unique origin in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. There have been Fall harvest festivals in agrarian societies since the beginning of time, but the American Thanksgiving was started primarily as a time of thanksgiving to God for His provision and secondarily as a celebration of a bountiful harvest. The Pilgrims’ intent behind the original Thanksgiving Day can be understood better by reading early Thanksgiving Day proclamations made by our country’s founding fathers. The text from the first official Thanksgiving Day proclamation issued on October 3, 1789 by George Washington is attached. It is clear that sincere gratitude rather than celebration dominates the message.
Thankfulness, as a state of mind, has many life altering benefits. I believe it is difficult to be depressed and truly thankful at the same time – try it. Also, being thankful helps us to be more accepting and satisfied with our circumstances and therefore reduces unnecessary stress. A sincere attitude of thankfulness makes us a happier person and much nicer company for our friends and family to enjoy. Medical practitioners tell us that the happier and more stress-free we are, the healthier we are. Being healthy has significant quality of life and financial implications. Therefore, a thankful person is happier, has more friends and spends less on medical bills.
On a personal note, I find it easier to be thankful if I start focusing on the simple, small things for which I should be thankful. The simple, small things I usually take for granted include enjoying my next breath, the food I have to eat and the great country I live in. I then build on the simple, small things and think about how thankful I should be for the relationship I enjoy with my wife, Tina, my great family and my friends. So when life’s inevitable disappointments show up, I just count my blessings and recall all the things for which I should be thankful.
In closing, I am especially thankful for the privilege of being of help to many of you when you have sold or purchased real estate.
I trust these thoughts about thankfulness will add to your well being this Thanksgiving and beyond. Have a thankful Thanksgiving!
Tedd Harshaw, Broker
Attachment – George Washington’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation – October 3, 1789
George Washington’s
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the
providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits,
and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of
Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the
people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be
observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of
Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to
establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November
next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great
and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that
is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our
sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of
this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold
mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and
conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and
plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in
which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our
safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted'
for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we
have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the
great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and
supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon
our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or
private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and
punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by
constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws,
discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all
sovereigns and nations (especially such as have show kindness to us), and to bless
them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and
practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them
and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal
prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3rd day of October, A.D.
1789.”
(signed) G. Washington