In this month of November we celebrate Thanksgiving all across our country but, perhaps contrary to popular belief, this holiday is not all about football and planning shopping sprees to snag the sales on Black Friday. The origination of the holiday was to celebrate the survival of the Pilgrims who had left England in 1621 and traveled to the New World. They settled in Plymouth, built homes in the wilderness, raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. They had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate.
 
Hundreds of years later, especially in this difficult economic climate, we could take some valuable lessons from those brave Pilgrims. They persevered in the face of adversity, planned for difficult times ahead, and made friends with their neighbors. In other words, Thanksgiving is not about gluttony at the dinner table. The average American will consume more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day alone, according to the Caloric Control Council (who knew there was such a Council?? Please tell me it’s not government funded, please, please??). 
 
This holiday, enjoy your family and friends and the bounty that will grace your table on Thanksgiving but let us all truly give thanks to people who are special to us. Start a new Thanksgiving tradition and take the time to share your thoughts in a handwritten note to someone who has made a difference in your life. Simple, meaningful, thoughtful and fat free! You will brighten someone’s day, I promise you. Now, please pass the pumpkin pie.