Next week we celebrate a holiday conceived in the darkest years of a Civil War. It was an attempt by Abraham Lincoln to goad his fellow citizens into acknowledging the good in their lives; to act on all those noble and worthy sentiments that lift our spirits and call us to positive action. He did so in spite of the horrors of war, the divisive politics that tore families and communities apart, the grotesque history of disenfranchisement and violence against millions, and the malaise and disassociation in an industrial age that lent tacit approval to every moral affront. Sound familiar? Through the years, his original design morphed, commodified, drifted, coopted by changing times, changing priorities, and changing families, and corporatized by national brands like Macy's, Hallmark, and the NFL. Nonetheless, our majority still huddle together on Thanksgiving. I'd like to think this has more to do with love and a genuine belief in the ethic and power of giving thanks, than the need to gorge on domesticated birds, and bet on how far into the game it will be before that certain uncle begins snoring in the middle of it all.
We generally don't give thanks enough. This isn't meant to be provocative, nor is it intended as accusation or judgement. I believe it is one defining social outcome in our modern condition. We are inundated with information, overwhelmed and over-scheduled, running ever towards some imagined point on an infinite horizon. Time is oppressive. Work unending. Life unyielding. Here's the thing--one has to subscribe to this infinite loop. Change your perspective, and you change your world.
Being thankful is not necessarily some moral action or social pleasantry. Frankly, being thankful, sincerely thankful, is pretty therapeutic. First, by giving thanks, we acknowledge an immutable truth, that no one gets far in this life without a lot of help. Second, giving thanks is a social act--we credit those deserving of our thanks for their support, expertise, and inspiration. Third, giving thanks grounds us, in our here and now. It's an exercise that helps us take stock of our lives and our values. Ultimately, giving thanks is about love.
Giving thanks, though, is not a means to an end, nor an end unto itself. It should be a beginning, a call to act. It's great to be told thank you, even better to be offered an extra set of hands when the need arises. We start with thanks in hopes that earnest gratitude begets an active and humble citizenry; ethically sound decision-making; socially responsible and responsive action; charitable giving of time, resources, and expertise; and inclusive and positive outcomes. As the saying goes, to those of us given much, much is expected. How better to express our thanks than to pay it forward by volunteering at a soup kitchen or orphanage or children's hospital, replanting a native forest, helping out at an animal shelter, reading at a local library or public school, sharing a meal with a socially-isolated senior citizen, or working with Habitat for Humanity or dozens of other worthy organizations? How powerful a value statement if we include our children in the same? A brighter future for our beloved island home begins with us and our willingness to recognize just how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place, made better by a dynamic and inspirational culture.
I am so very thankful to all of you: children, parents, and colleagues. I am thankful for my wife and best friend, for my children, for my crazy family. I am thankful for my home, here, in Puerto Rico. I'm thankful for this amazing campus. I'm thankful for good friends and good health. And yes, I'm thankful for my daily serving of arroz y habichuelas. My waistline is not nearly as enthusiastic. May you soon find yourself in the arms of dear ones, surrounded by family and the sounds, smells, and tastes of home.
Happy Thanksgiving!