在艱難的歲月裡還能懷有一顆感恩之心就顯得越發彌足珍貴。感激之情其實也是一劑良藥，能幫我們提高情緒增強健康。你會發現生命中的小小感激也能創造大大的幸福!
【Turkey: It's What's for Dinner】
When the Wampanoag people and the Colonists sat down to their three-day feast to give thanks, they dined on lobster, fish packed in salt, dried and smoked meats, and freshly caught wild game. They did not eat corn on the cob (as Indian corn was only good for making corn meal, not eating whole) or eat pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce since sugar, yams, or sweet potatoes had not yet been introduced to the New England region.
Turkey is the big centerpiece of most Thanksgiving celebrations across the United States. Since records of exactly what was eaten at that first celebration in 1621 are fuzzy at best, wild turkey may or may not have even been eaten at the feast.
The thing is, turkey was one of the staples of the settlers' diets at that time anyway, as turkeys were in great supply and were enjoyed for their eggs as well as their abundant meat. So, even if the feathered bird wasn't there at the first Thanksgiving, the turkey quickly became a fixture at future tables.
Today, many families opt instead for a roast goose (which was almost definitely present at the first feast), a ham (which was almost definitely not present), or the new "gourmet" tradition of turducken (a turkey stuffed with a duck that's stuffed with a chicken).
Thanksgiving is one of the few feasts where even the vegetarians can go home full without much modification of the standard menu. Leave out the roast turkey and you still have sweet potatoes, stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, apple and pumpkin pie, roast squash, brussels sprouts and a host of other seasonal sides and desserts to pig out on. Of course, you can always add Tofurkey (turkey-flavored tofu) or another meat substitute for the non-carnivores and turkey-pardoners of the group.
【All the President's Turkeys】
And just where did that US Presidential pardoning of the turkey tradition come from? Well, the tradition of officially pardoning a turkey dates back as far as Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, or George H. Bush, depending on whom you ask. Photos depict President Truman accepting a turkey at the White House, although it is not known whether the bird ended up on the table or at the farm after the cameras left the scene.
John F. Kennedy was presented with a turkey at Thanksgiving and decided to "just keep it" instead of serve it up. And when President Bush Senior was presented with a holiday turkey, he gave a lighthearted speech where he decided to officially pardon the turkey. Turkeys have been officially pardoned since that day.
Thanksgiving will see many families gathered around the television watching football, cheerleading competitions, or Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade – or all three. The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (originally called Macy's Christmas Parade) began in 1924 in New York City as a kickoff to the holiday shopping season. Since its first national broadcast in 1947, it has been a staple for TV audiences across the country.
Other families take advantage of the four-day-weekend holiday to take a trip – either to visit family or take a vacation. Either way, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the most heavily trafficked days of the year by car or by plane.
Long airport delays, higher fares, unpredictable weather conditions and other travel hassles have some families opting to go local and bridge the familial distance on less difficult days.
For families who stay close to home, opportunities to participate in community celebrations, as well as opportunities for volunteering, are abundant. Many do-gooders go civic and volunteer at local soup kitchens, shelters, orphanages, and other charities to lend some helping hands during the holiday.
【8 Ways to Stay Thankful in Hard Times】
1. Find What You're Grateful For
想想讓你感激的人或事
The real uncertainty we face about our economic future can make us quite fearful and sad. Locating those things for which we can still be grateful, brings joy even in the face of those challenges without pretending they are not real.
我們所面臨的經濟生活不穩定會讓我們很擔心很難過，想想那些讓我們心存感激之情的人或事，會給我們帶來歡樂，就算有困難挑戰也無所謂，我們有足夠勇氣面對，不用假裝它們不存在。
2. Articulate It
說出你的感謝
Tell a friend or loved one a story about something for which you are grateful. Don’t be surprised to find yourself smiling by the end of that story.
跟朋友或者愛人說說你感激的故事，說完你會發現自己在微笑，別驚訝，這就是感激的魔力。
e's Always More to Be Grateful For
總是有很多值得感謝的人或事
Consider the difference between wealth and value. While material wealth is important, it is not the only source of real value in our lives. We can all celebrate value, even when the material wealth in our lives is taking a beating.
想想財富和價值之間的差異。物質財富很重要，不過它並不是我們生活中真正價值的唯一來源。就算生活中的物質財富遭受了打擊，我們也還能慶祝生命的價值。
4. Wealth Begins Within
我們其實很富有
An ancient rabbinic teaching reminds us that we are wealthy when we are happy with what we possess.
古老的諺語提醒著我們，因為所擁有的東西感到快樂，我們也可以很富有。
iness and Satisfaction Are Different
快樂和滿意不一樣
We can want more than we currently have and still be happy with what we've got. Wanting more does not have to get in the way of enjoying what we already have. If it does, we will never have enough.
我們現在擁有，我們想要的更多，我們也會因為現在的擁有而感到快樂。想要更多，並不會阻礙我們享受現在已有的`東西。如果你無法享受現在的擁有，那你永遠也不會滿足。
6. It's All Relative
一切都是相對的
A person who lives in a $100,000 house in a neighborhood of $75,000 homes experiences living in a mansion. The same house in a neighborhood of $500,000 homes may feel like a hovel.
在7.5萬美元的小區裡，住著10萬美元房子的人會覺得自己住的是別墅;同樣的房子換到50萬美元的小區裡，他會覺得自己住的是茅舍。
7. Help yourself by Helping Others
幫助別人其實也是幫助自己
The holidays are a great time to reach out to other people in need. And helping others address their needs is one of the best ways to relieve the anxiety we may feel about our own.
節假日是向其他需要幫助的人伸出援手的好機會。幫助他們，滿足他們的需要，也是緩解我們自身焦慮最好的方法之一。
8. We All Have Something to Give
我們總是有東西可以給予
No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we can all offer support to those around us. Whether it’s a penny, a dollar, or much more, the act of giving always makes us feel as if we have more than we thought we had.
也許我們的境況很艱難，可是不管怎麼樣，我們都還是能支援身邊的人，也許只是一點點錢，可是這樣給予的過程會讓我們感到，我們其實擁有很多。
