Photo of my daughter Jordana skateboarding at a Maine beach in September
Okay, I didn't find cranberries, but in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. We'll have that particular stuffing another time (when I remember to bring back cranberries from London). As Thanksgiving nears, I have many blessings for which to be thankful: a healthy family; good friends; work that matters; a comfortable place to live and good food. And tomorrow, Susan of Soozphotoz and her belle mere Kate will be joining us for Thankgiving dinner.
I realise how incredibly lucky we are to be living in a society where all these things are possible. So many people in the world never have the opportunities we Westerners do. And I believe we have a responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Awareness has written an excellent piece about how poverty is just unacceptable. She quotes Nobel Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus:
"We create institutions and policies on the basis of the way we make assumptions about us and others. We accept the fact that we will always have poor people around us. So we have had poor people around us. If we had believed that poverty is unacceptable to us, and that it should not belong to a civilized society, we would have created appropriate institutions and policies to create a poverty-free world."
On Thanksgiving in America and every other day, let's spare a thought for those who struggle to make ends meet. And let's try to help them - small steps can make a big difference. You may be reading this and thinking, "Well I'm struggling to make ends meet." Believe me, I know. I've been there, as a single mom for 15 years. If you haven't already, please take a minute to read my post about some of my experiences: Changing Fortunes. You can help others without spending money - sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can change someone's day for the better.
Happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans out there, wherever you may be!
How gorgeous! Just like mom!!
Posted by: Rosa | 01 December 2006 at 14:07
tell your daughter i love her shirt. um, that was the first thing i noticed in the pic(materialistic me, eh).
omg, muhammad yunus!! i love what he's done! in toronto i was watching this super lecture [live! :D] delivered by jane goodall, and she mentioned how he was her role model.
thanksgiving, mother's day, father's day--the ideals of these should be absorbed and implemented daily into everyone's lives.
Posted by: [a}ma | 25 November 2006 at 21:01
Your daughter exudes beauty from the inside out! This photo has captured pure joy….what a delight, so exquisite!
When I am feeling financially disadvantaged ….I just take in a quick dose of “World Vision” for an instant cure! I have an abundance of faith that carries me through. I feel blessed every single day….even when life seems intolerable!
Poverty should never be tolerated in a world of so much wealth.
Posted by: giggles | 25 November 2006 at 08:23
Happiness in person.
Posted by: Rethabile | 24 November 2006 at 12:33
What a wonderful picture of Jordana!
I think it's especially cool that she skateboards.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. Mine was very, very uneventful. I made carne adovada, though, to remind me of NM.
Posted by: Ali la Loca | 24 November 2006 at 10:24
Our stories tell more about us than we may realize. But it is through sharing that we grow...and help others. Thanks to you for your Thanksgiving story.
When I first looked at the photo of your daughter, I thought it was on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Have I gotten egocentric or what? But such joy on her face! Marvelous!
A holiday list of expatriates celebrating Thanksgiving Day is calling...I'm loving this Vicar-ious story pooling!
Gooble! Gooble!
Meilleurs voeux!
Posted by: bluevicar | 23 November 2006 at 20:31
Beautiful Daughter!! How could she not be with such a beautiful woman as yourself!!
Happy Thanksgiving Tara!!
Posted by: tongue in cheek | 23 November 2006 at 18:19
A great kid! What joy I see on her face, just to be alive in the sun! What do YOU eat on Thanksgiving? Escargo, foix de graw,,,(excuse the sp.)
I am thankful for the travels you've allowed me to tag along, for your being such a great guide! Thanks!
Posted by: pepek | 23 November 2006 at 16:33
Happy Thanksgiving! Give Susan my best and I am very thankful for you both. Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Tammy | 23 November 2006 at 15:31
I called by and read, was distracted by what I read and forgot to write ... beautiful photograph!
Posted by: Di | 23 November 2006 at 11:22
Beautiful child you have. I wish you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving.
sage
Posted by: sage | 23 November 2006 at 04:11
Great photo of your beautiful daughter! Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, Tara.
Posted by: Kerstin | 23 November 2006 at 02:08
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family
Posted by: Catherine | 23 November 2006 at 01:14
Oh, what a wonderful, joy filled picture :)
She is something to be thankful for!
Posted by: Becca | 23 November 2006 at 00:12
The photo of your daughter looking so blissfully happy is great, and even more special after reading the Changing Fortunes article. You are a brave woman, have been through many tough times. Nice to see that things are much better for you and your daughter now. Happy Thanksgiving and hope you got the fresh cranberries!
Posted by: martina | 22 November 2006 at 23:31
Time to give thanks for abundant blessings,friendships,happiness,creativity,and
good health!...I am sure your ~*greatest blessing*~ is smiling with so much ~*JOY*~ in the photo!
Happy Thanksgiving ..we in Canada have already celebrated in Oct.
Posted by: naturegirl | 22 November 2006 at 22:40
I heartily agree; thank you for reminding us.
We can change the world, one courtesy at a time.
-- f
Posted by: Footpad | 22 November 2006 at 21:55
And a happy turkey day to you, too!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | 22 November 2006 at 21:33
Great photo! It's so funny...I was reading your post when your comment on mine arrived. :) Did you hear that last week the USDA eliminated the word "hunger" and replaced it with "low food security?" Try telling that to the people on this planet living in extreme poverty..."You're not hungry, you just have low food security..."
But on a brigher note, Happy Thanksgiving!! Any day that encourages mass gratitude is a great day indeed.
Posted by: Marilyn | 22 November 2006 at 19:50
Another great and important post Tara. And thanks for thre links.
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | 22 November 2006 at 19:40
Dear Tara,
As a mother isn't it absolutely wonderful when we can capture such joy in our child's face?!! Beautiful photo.
Many thanks for linking over to to the piece that Awareness wrote on public policy and poverty - excellent.
I hope that you and David have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends. On my ever-growing list of things I'm grateful for in life, you are included.
Much peace & love,
JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 22 November 2006 at 18:55
isn't she lovely!! and such joy on her face!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving feast Tara! and you are right,a small act of kindness CAN change someones day!
XOXO
Posted by: Lisa(oceandreamer) | 22 November 2006 at 17:30
She is a joy to behold! (joie de vivre is a great word tinker!!)
We have had some similar experiences; I too was surprised, shocked, brought to tears by the kindness of strangers here in the Bay Area. Everday I don't know what I would do without them - and they have no names to thank.
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 22 November 2006 at 16:20
Like mother, like daughter - she is lovely, Tara, and appears to have inherited your joie de vivre, as well!
You are so right, we who are blessed (and if we have food to eat and a roof over our heads, we are indeed), do have an obligation not only to give thanks and share, but to make the world a better place for those who aren't similarly blessed.
May you and your family have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving (with or without the cranberries)!
XOXO
Posted by: tinker | 22 November 2006 at 15:16
Great picture too. :)
Posted by: Pearl | 22 November 2006 at 15:03
Thank you for those thoughts. Not accepting poverty as a choice forward is an important step.
Posted by: Pearl | 22 November 2006 at 15:01
I LOVE that picture of your daughter! She looks absolutely joyful.
Posted by: krista | 22 November 2006 at 14:50