Greetings Cheer Peppers I have a little reality for my 7th Nano post, but I have put a positive spin at the end.

I can’t remember exactly when I became aware that the cute origin story I learned in grade school regarding Thanksgiving was complete bullshit.  I only know that since knowing it has changed dramatically how I feel about the holiday in general.  I now celebrate it as a time to gather with family and be grateful, but I still have ugly sad feelings about it.  I know we are not responsible for what our ancestors did, but the fact remains we stole this land from its indigenous people and it feels very wrong to celebrate that in any way.  Couple that with how many in our society are acting now about not wanting to share that which we have claimed as our own, knowing full well it was never ours to begin with, leaves me bitter and angry.  How are we supposed to feel about this holiday when we know the truth?  I guess most people just don’t think too much about it.  What ever Thanksgiving was intended to be, I am not happy with what it’s become either.  The heavy commercialization of our holidays takes the fun and purpose out of them.  Now stores are opening on Thanksgiving in hopes of spurring on the shopping frenzy that feeds their bottom lines.  People that aren’t well to do that have to work with the public are forced to work and participate in the madness.  They are calling it Brown Thursday which is somewhat apropos considering the shit show that it is.  I try to write happy upbeat things and participating in Nano this year I think I have done that.  The last couple of years I have been too bereft to even participate.  It’s hard because there is so much unpleasantness going on in the world right now. I feel like posting only happy stuff is ignoring the elephant in the room.  That said, I know we would all like a break from the elephant so to that end I choose to celebrate love every day.  I will choose to celebrate the good things that are happening and be grateful for the gifts in my life.  Whatever our ancestors did I know we can do better going forward and we must.  Perhaps we define what Thanksgiving is for ourselves.  We don’t have to celebrate the lie we’ve been sold.  We can make it something better and celebrate that instead.  Happy Thanksgiving whatever the day means to you.  Enjoy!