Thanksgiving Planning

Thanksgiving is the ultimate balancing act in every one's life. When you receive goodness from others, you are indebted to them, and until you say thanks, you feel a sense of imbalance, incompleteness, and a sense of missing something ... and it adds to your inexplicable discomfort. There is an unfinished transaction out there, and at times it is difficult to figure. But there is a solution, an easy but a powerful one. Just say thanks, a simple thank you will do a lot of good to us, and our relationships. Most people say thanks without fail, those who miss out on a few things, we have a an opportunity to reflect on this Thanksgiving day.

Here are a few suggestions at http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-planning.html

If you tie the loose ends, there is joy for you.
You have plenty of time to do it, but do it. 


If you don't believe in God, that is fine, it is still a release when you say thanks to the benefit giver. But if you believe in God, the formless, being or non-being, one or many, male, female or gender-less  your faith invariably prescribes you to say thanks to God in the form of prayers or supplications... even for the only gift you may have; able to breath.

 

Despite the shortcomings, please make a list of all the people you want to thank, even for the littlest thing they have done for you... say thanks, call them or mail them a card. It is very uplifting thing to do. 

You know  the best time to make that list? Its your lunch hour... wherever  whichever restaurant you want to go including the peaceful McDonalds, Wendys or your favorite... my favorite place is the library, that is my heaven! Be with yourselves to make that list… there is joy for you.



Once the list starts building, watch the good within you surfacing and making you happy. 

I will repeat my story of a man who had no limbs, no legs, just a torso, he was grateful that he could see the blue skies, smell the dirt when it rains, which is my favorite too,  enjoy the aroma of the food as he went door to door asking for food or alms.. its a real humbling story that I was a part of, and Appaiah stunned me when he was so full of thanks for that life... I want to thank Tehran Times, the Iranian News paper who had published that piece a few years ago... that was joyful to me! They just pulled it out of my blog www.TheGhouseDiary.com. God willing I will get that story published in Huffington Post for thanksgiving, with additional info on my blog.

MikeGhouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace making, foreign policy, Islam, interfaith, and cohesion at work place or social settings. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. Mike has a strong presence on national local TV, Radio and Print Media, and is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News, fortnightly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes everything you want to know about him.

Thanksgiving Message, why should we celebrate?

I am pleased to share the following articles about thanksgiving and it’s significance in our lives. I am committed to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill amongst people of different affiliations, that is my passion and I speak about it.

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1. Dallas Morning News: Why should we be thankful?
It is a day to pull ourselves together and tie up the loose ends of life. Through the year we receive a lot of good from others in the form of words and actions, and many a times it is a one way transaction and remains incomplete. Those who achieve balance in life are the happiest people.  Indeed, our happiness is directly dependent on fulfillment of our desires; lesser fulfillment yields greater discontentment. So, the enlightened Buddha says, fewer the desires, lesser the sorrows! A full narrative is at:

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/11/texas-faith-why-should-we-be-thankful.html

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2. Huffington Post – A Pluralist’s Thanksgiving. The article weaves through several religions touching the heart and soul of each one. It's just not you, ask Bill Gates, whom God has blessed, he would say not enough! Ask the Homeless; the answer is still the same, not enough. Who has enough then?  Then read the incredible story of gratitude. Appaiah turned around and asked me instead “Isn’t there so much to thank the lord?” I was rendered speechless. Here is a man with nothing to hope for, yet he is not complaining, that is gratitude!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse . If not published on Thursday, go to: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/11/essence-of-thanksgiving.html

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Americans Together building a cohesive America

Our Mission is to build a cohesive America, where no American has to live in anxieties, discomfort or fear of the other. As a society, it is our responsibility to keep law and order and faithfully guard the safety of every citizen. Hate, prejudice and stereotyping are some of the many sources of disrupting the peace in a society and it is our duty to track down the source of such hate and work on mitigating it and nurturing goodwill.  We need your input.

http://americatogetherfoundation.blogspot.com/2011/11/americans-together-documentary_11.html

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Happy thanksgiving

 Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Politics, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. Over a thousand articles have been published on the topics and two of his books are poised to be released on Pluralism and Islam. Mike's work is fully indexed at  http://www.mikeghouse.net/ and you can find all of his current articles at www.TheGhousediary.com 
 

ADDITIONAL READING, IF YOU HAVE THE TIME

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KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR WILLIAMS REMARKS OFFENDS HINDUS

It is not only a Hindu issue; it is indeed an American issue. The speaking out shouldn't be just from Hindus, but Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Pagans, Wiccans, Zoroastrians and others as well. Why should anyone stand up for you, if you are not willing to do the same for others?  No one has a right to belittle other's faiths.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/senator-williams-offend-hindus_b_1075392.html

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SIKHS AND MUSLIMS CAN COME TOGETHER FOR GURPURAB

The ill-will between Sikhs and Muslims has run deep for over 350 years  based on mistranslation of a verse from Quraan by Emperors sycophants, and carried further by the leaders of the Sikh community without any one making an effort to correct the translation and remove the misunderstanding. I was blessed to have that opportunity to interact with Dr. Aulakh Singh in Melbourne, Australia and hope, the ill-will mitigates. The good news is that, most of the Sikh youth are not familiar with it and I am glad they are not.  Finding the truth is one’s own responsibility. Full story at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/sikhs-and-muslims-on-542n_b_1087327.html

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ESSENCE OF EID-AL-ADHA: A MUSLIM FESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE

The following article, "Essence of Eid-al-Adha" was written for non-Muslims as well as Muslims, so they can relate with the essence of our celebrations. Unless we connect and relate, myths continue to flourish about us. There is a slight humor in the dialogue between Prophet Abraham and God with the intent of understanding what love and sacrifice mean in a relationship. A few Muslims may not see it, but Insha Allah it will go a long way in building bridges. I do hope the last item about appreciating men and women in the uniform goes a long way in building relationship.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/essence-of-eidaladha-a-mu_b_1075393.html