Thanksgiving is one of my favorite American holidays. Unlike Halloween, Christmas and Easter, there are no overtones of a religious holiday. Thanksgiving commemorates the Pilgrims sharing an autumn harvest festival with the Wampanoag Indians. Today it's mostly celebrated by a turkey dinner shared by family and friends.
This year, the holiday arrives just as we face the worst financial situation in the US in 75 years. Thanksgiving asks us to pause and give thanks in gratitude for all we have. Is the glass half full or half empty?
Isn't this what we ask of parents, family, friends, and teachers of children with special needs? Don't we ask the adults to see the child's strengths rather than his/her weaknesses? Now we see it's not so easy to do. It's something we have to learn - to see the little positives, the small changes that mark progress, to see the smile or other nonverbal expressions of success. But it's that smile that makes it all worthwhile and rewarding. Now we have to see those same small positive changes in our country, our economy, our own lives. We have much to learn from those who live with special health, cognitive, language, and emotional needs.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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