The Taste of Thankfulness

We are in the season of thankfulness! Gobble, Gobble, Ho, Ho! We allow months like November and December, turkeys, trees, and gifts with bows on them to become the mascots for our thankfulness. We practice our gratitude during these months perhaps because the holidays seem to be the best place for it.

I believe practicing gratitude often, and not just during the holidays, is healthy. Let’s for a moment think about how we feel when we receive tokens of appreciation.

What does that “taste” like to you? Do you digest it slowly so you can savor the moment? Do you try to inspect the motive for so long that the acknowledgment of your thankfulness seems disingenuous? Do you feel “full” of gratitude?

We must understand that preparing for thankfulness will look different to each of us. Like, during the holidays, when it comes to sweet potato pies, I am not a fan of a dark filling with an overcooked crust. The rest of my family thinks that one is the contest winner. So, if I’m not the one cooking pies that year, the designated pie chef knows to pull my pies out earlier. And that pie is my pie!

I like my pies that way because I like the way the pie tastes when the texture is softer and the rawness of it is truer to how it came out the ground. With that said, I’ll be honest, some years the pie chef forgets me. Not because they don’t care about my request, but because they may have been juggling with the responsibility of also making the turkey, collards and tending to their child(ren).

So, my light pie is now parading around the oven with the burnt orange pies. And when it’s time for desserts to be served, the pie chef immediately recognizes that they have kept the fire on past the point of my pleasure. And he/she apologizes. But I don’t get angry. I smile and tell them I appreciate that their intent and desire was to accommodate me. Would there have been a different display of appreciation if I had the light pie? Yes. But I am thankful for the intent and execution of giving. Sidenote, my brother will sneak under the aluminum foil and cut a piece of my pie because he doesn’t discriminate.

I give this example because I want us all to be honest about how thankfulness tastes to us. And then be honest about our rigidness in being open to eating from the plate of the best that someone could prepare it. I believe it is okay at times to be creative in our delivery of gratitude, but it is also okay to get it out the best way we can in the moment.

According to the Harvard Medical School, people have a few ways of how they feel and express gratitude.

1. Reflecting on Gratitude from the Past

This is when people retrieve positive memories and are thankful for elements of their childhood or past blessings.

2. Viewing Gratitude in the Present

In this space, people decide not to take good fortune for granted as it comes and practice gratitude often and/or daily.

3. Anticipating Gratitude for the Future

Pulling appreciation from this lane is where people maintain a hopeful and optimistic attitude.

So, if you have not taken the time today, find a moment to marinate on something someone has done for you, something you have done for someone else, and learn how you “taste” it to feel gratitude and joy more often!

What are some things you are most thankful for?

Ené Kneya is a writer and founder of publishing company, Ené Kneya, LLC. Ené Kneya is a mom of a wonderful son that inspires her to continue doing great things! Her faith fuels her daily. When she is not writing, Ené Kneya is teaching, a passion that started at five-years-old. She would use stuffed animals as students to practice her lesson plans and public speaking. Ené Kneya is excited to share her passions and teachings through writing here on a Curvy Mom Blog! Find more of her work at https://enekneya.wordpress.com and soon on www.enekneya.com.