Foreign Policy Blogs

Happy Thanksgiving

Today American's set forth to escape the ciaos that has become our everyday lives to spend the day amongst family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving, and as we gather around tables covered in American traditions old and new, let us not forget the meaning of the holiday. Regardless of your views, or thoughts, on the "true' story of the first Thanksgiving the meaning of the day is still firmly rooted and continues to thankfully remain uncommercialized. Thanksgiving remains my favorite holiday for this exact reason, it is a day when the only thing anyone expects other than a good meal, is your company.

This year I will not be able to go back home and spend the holiday with my family, but it only helps to reinforce how much in my life that I am thankful for, as I have been so lucky to be flooded with numerous offers from friends, neighbors and colleagues to spend the holiday with them. Sadly I know that today, so many others are not as lucky as I am, and as we gather and sit around our tables of food, no matter how full our plates our tables all we can take a moment to realize we have much to be thankful for.

Too often we forget to thank those in our lives that mean and do so much for us, we fail to see what is truly important in our lives. It has become almost a normal pastime to take our lives for granted, and rarely do we stop to look and see how lucky we really are. I know that even on my worst day, I am one of the lucky ones, and I am thankful that I have been so blessed for all I have and I have learned that what I am most thankful for is not material, but the wealth of people and experiences I have had. I have been blessed to encounter so many people who have shown me nothing but strength and thanks in the face of adversity. Often when one looks back you realize you must even give thanks for the struggles and hardships in your life, as if not for them much of what you have would not be if not for the hardships you previously faced.

Take today to teach the children in your life the true meaning of Thanksgiving, and look to make everyday one in which they give thanks.  Thanksgiving is also the perfect time to begin looking at ways in which you can give back to the community.  Can't think of any?…stay tuned as I will be bringing you a list of ways you can help underprivileged children!

     
    Add a comment

    Comments (1)

    1. naveen Friday - 28 / 11 / 2008 Reply
      Education is the best tool to unlock the vicious and self-perpetuating cycle of hunger and poverty. By providing school meals for the underprivileged children we have to promote and encourage education among them. As you will understand, this is a tremendous task and I know one NGO in India which is doing almost similar work. I think they are feeding almost 1 million underprivileged children everyday, through out the country. I think we all have to support them for the work they are doing for those who are in need.If you want to know more about them log on to www.akshayapatra.org. Support them its our social Responsibility.

    Add a comment


    Study International Affairs in New York City

    Author

    Cassandra Clifford
    Cassandra Clifford

    Cassandra Clifford is the Founder and Executive Director of Bridge to Freedom Foundation, which works to enhance and improve the services and opportunities available to survivors of modern slavery. She holds an M.A., International Relations from Dublin City University in Ireland, as well as a B.A., Marketing and A.S., Fashion Merchandise/Marketing from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

    Cassandra has previously worked in both the corporate and charity sector for various industries and causes, including; Child Trafficking, Learning Disabilities, Publishing, Marketing, Public Relations and Fashion. Currently Cassandra is conducting independent research on the use of rape as a weapon of war, as well as America’s Pimp Culture and its Impact on Modern Slavery. In addition to her many purists Cassandra is also working to develop a series of children’s books.

    Cassandra currently resides in the Washington, D.C. metro area, where she also writes for the Examiner, as the DC Human Rights Examiner, and serves as an active leadership member of DC Stop Modern Slavery.


    Areas of Focus:
    Children's Rights; Human Rights; Conflict