Thanksgiving inspires a season of appreciation for what sustains us and gives meaning to life.
 

Share Good Food

“I think true sustenance is when our hunger for connection and belonging meet,” says Sarah Ban Breathnach, the Los Angeles author of The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude. “When my daughter was small, we would purchase a complete Thanksgiving dinner for the local food pantry when we shopped for our own, saying, ‘One for us, one for them.’”

Nourishment of our emotional and spiritual selves often begins with choosing simple, whole food. Rocco DiSpirito, a New York City celebrity chef and author of Rocco’s Healthy + Delicious, reminds us, “Eat real food! Return to the basics of eating what’s produced by Mother Nature. You’ll become a better partner, parent and person.” Cooking is more enjoyable when shared; beyond partaking together, partnering in meal preparation is a fun way to nurture bonds with others any time of the year.

Share Life’s Happiness

Common interests lessen the chasm between our to-do lists and nurturing camaraderie. Anna Maria Caldara, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, has opened her doors for intimate community events through the years. “My former home, a converted church, was a perfect space for organizing and a way to give back,” says Caldara, who has hosted gatherings on local environmental issues, music performances, literary nights and annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations.

Small living spaces can be just as welcoming and facilitate simple conversation, a valuable gesture. “The art of listening is such a beautiful, but rare act of kindness. I love technology, but there’s no denying that our devices have made us poor listeners,” says Michael J. Chase, of southern Maine, the founder of The Kindness Center, whose books include Am I Being Kind and Off: A Memoir of Darkness, a Manual of Hope. Each month, Chase makes it a point to visit friends and send some handwritten notes instead of using social media.

Practice Kindness

Sharing our time or talent will be remembered long after the holiday feasting. Author Nicole J. Phillips, of Athens, Ohio, author of Kindness is Contagious, observes, “We are literally created to be kind; it’s well known that feel-good endorphins are released when we do an act of kindness. I think we often hold back because we predetermine that our resources are limited. Know your talents and gifts, and build your acts of kindness accordingly.”

Marlaina Donato is a freelance writer, author and multimedia artist (MarlainaDonato.com).

 

Feed Your Soul

• Revive a traditional weekly or monthly dinner with family or friends.

• Whip up and enjoy a healthy dinner or dessert with someone not seen in a while.

• Organize a healthy potluck using local ingredients and encourage invitees to bring someone that’s new to the group.

• Choose a healthier version of a holiday favorite and print out the recipe for everyone at the event.

• Fill a holiday basket with yummy and colorful edibles and drop it off at a local business or library to express appreciation.

• Seek reconciliation by initiating a conversation with someone that may have been hurtful.

• Explore ThePeoplesSupper.org to join or host a dinner to make new friends.

 

Offer Some Time

• Offer to help clean up a friend’s yard or organize a closet or room in their house.

• Host a children’s art party and donate their works to a local facility or shelter.

• If in possession of a holistic, artful or practical skill, gift it.

• Bring a pot of homemade soup to a friend or neighbor that’s under the weather.

• Find ideas for random acts of kindness at Kindness.org.

This article appears in the November 2017 issue of Natural Awakenings.