No one could have predicted just how stressful 2020 would be.

I am happy we have Thanksgiving right now, to stop and reflect on what to be thankful for.

#1 on my list is family.

I consider myself to be extremely blessed with wonderful friends and a supportive family. This year has made it even more apparent just how important family is.

#2: Healthcare workers. Where would we be without them? The stress on nurses, doctors, hospital staff, doctors’ offices, urgent care facilities, and others has been immense. Thanks to these professionals, I had several family members and friends experience successful surgeries this year!

#3: Netflix and other streaming channels. OK, so I like to indulge like the rest of you. Who hasn’t sat down and watched an entire season of one of the great shows available?

#4: My health. I am thankful for my health, especially this year! I know how important the immune system is to fight off COVID so, having my health means even more to me now. 

#5: The internet. Where would we be without it today? Millions of people are able to work at home. We can have live video chats with family and friends we haven’t seen since spring. We have unlimited access to news, music, movies, and social media. (I’m talking about the positive aspects of being online.)

#6: Toilet paper. Just kidding, sort of! I’m thankful to live in a society where we take simple things like toilet paper for granted.

#7: My “bubble”. Most of us have a bubble of people we now hang out with. I’m grateful to have a family and some close friends I can be with.

#8: Our country. It’s been a difficult year in the United States, but we have so much to be grateful for. There are millions of parks. We have beaches, mountains, deserts, forests, canyons, rivers, lakes, and so much more. What an incredible country it is to live in.

#9 Hugging. When can we hug people again? We’ve all given virtual hugs. How grateful are you for the people in your life you can hug? Give hugs to the people you can – it’s actually really good for your immune system!

The bottom line is, no matter who you are, or what your circumstance is, there are many things to be grateful for.

And I appreciate you my amazing clients and colleagues who make working during this time much easier.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Debbie Smith

As Thanksgiving comes every year, I like most of us, reflect on what I’m thankful for.

Of course, my family comes first. I am so grateful to have a loving family to be with not just at the holidays, but all year.

I’m grateful for this amazing country we live in. I love the change of seasons (even though the cold weather is upon us.)

And you! I am so thankful for all of my customers who make my business possible.

I love helping businesses of all kinds succeed by using great promotional products, top-notch printed materials, custom logo apparel, hats, trade show booths, and more.

I’m grateful we take the time each year to create an amazing meal and share it with our family and friends. And then, we sit down and eat ourselves silly.

I don’t know about you, but I just love the smell of Thanksgiving dinner. I love being with family and friends and eating more than I should.

Small Business Saturday

If you’re a small business, an employee at a small business, or a supporter of small businesses and want to become involved in Small Business Saturday 2018, take a look at everything you need to know about this day dedicated to supporting small businesses.

Small Business Saturday is always celebrated on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday 2018 is taking place on November 24.

Unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which focus on larger retailers and e-commerce stores, Small Business Saturday encourages people to shop at small and local retailers and to use small, local services such as restaurants and other independent local businesses.

What small business have you driven by recently and thought, “Gosh, I should shop there?” Now’s your chance! Support them on Small Business Saturday.

What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving?

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving,

Debbie Smith

 

Pilgrims most likely ate venison and perhaps roasted pumpkin when they celebrated their first day of thanks, but that’s beside the point.

I found the following information in an article about the origin of Thanksgiving (on Thanksgiving.com of all places!)

We all think of the pilgrims as we chomp on turkey legs, mashed potatoes and pie, but in reality, Thanksgiving was celebrated on and off during the 1700s, and people apparently stopped celebrating it around 1815. According to the article…

It took decades for the idea to pick up steam again, but it wasn’t until 1863 that Thanksgiving was formally declared a holiday by none other than President Abraham Lincoln. He proclaimed that a national day of thanks would be regularly commemorated each year on the last Thursday of November.

Meet Sarah Josepha Hale

While Lincoln gets due credit for making it official, it might not have happened (or at least happened as soon) without for the persistent efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of the influential mid-nineteenth-century magazine Godey’s Lady’s Book.

For years, she used her position at the magazine to help promote the idea of Thanksgiving.

Not content to rally only her readers, in September of 1863, Mrs Hale reached out to President Lincoln in a long handwritten letter marked PRIVATE.

Permit me, as Editress of the “Lady’s Book”, to request a few minutes of your precious time, while laying before you a subject of deep interest to myself and — as I trust — even to the President of our Republic, of some importance. This subject is to have the day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and fixed Union Festival.

Personally, I love that it took the persistence of a strong woman to make a day of thanks a national holiday.

In my opinion, it’s the most beloved of all holidays. There are no presents to buy or expectations of anything really fancy other than the main fixings of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie. I have known folks who traditionally have noodles or rice or peas – but you get my drift. It’s a holiday based on giving thanks, eating, drinking and being with family.

I am grateful for my family, friends and colleagues. I’m grateful for this amazing country we live in where we can all celebrate our holidays in the manner that suits our own beliefs and traditions.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Be grateful, be merry and hug a bunch of family and friends!

With gratitude,

Debbie Smith
(614) 519-2392
debbie@advantageprintsolutions.com

To view the article, visit http://www.thanksgiving.com/thanksgiving-activities/thanksgiving-history/thanksgiving-wasnt-always-national-holiday