Julie Cohen
Marriage and Family Therapist
Julie Cohen is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist MFT and a Child Mental Health Specialist with a private practice in Los Angeles Her areas of focus include depression anxiety panic post-traumatic stress bipolar…
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Have an Authentic Thanksgiving
11
Posted in Anxiety by Julie Cohen on Nov 26, 2008


Thanksgiving begins the holiday season and with that, all the mixed emotions that go along with them.  This time of year can be especially difficult for those who have lost or are separated from a loved one.  I find myself missing my mother a lot this time of year as I reflect on the memories and feelings of Thanksgiving dinners of years ago and wish if only once more that she could be with us at the dinner table tomorrow. 


I know that regardless of how the turkey and stuffing turned out she would always end the meal by saying, "this was the best thanksgiving EVER!"  My partner and I smile as we think of her and simultaneously repeat her mantra as we begin to brine the turkey. 


There are two holidays every year that I share the following poem, Mother's day and Thanksgiving.  For those of you struggling with the holiday season, I hope the following poem brings you solace.  And please remember with all the pressure to be "happy," I think it's healthier to be authentic with your thoughts and feelings. Have a healthy and authentic Thanksgiving...


 


In the rising of the sun and its going down, we remember them.


In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.


In the opening buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.


In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.


In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.


When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.


When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.


So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.


~~Hebrew Union Prayer Book~~


 


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Displaying comments 11-1 of 11
11
authentic thanksgiving? so we should find a culture to exploit, kill them, take their land and then pretend to celebrate the peace between us?

I don't celebrate Thanksgiving at all. I find it to be hypocritical and no different than, say, Hitler day.
By hlks  Dec 31, 2008
10
That's beautiful. Thank you.
By choasity  Nov 30, 2008
9
Thank you for the poem; I have passed it along to my sister who keeps the Jewish holidays and she will appreciate it. My Daddy died last month and the holidays are very difficult, more so than usual I mean as I live alone in a country where people only speak to those their grandparents know or who come from the same country they came from (its like a series of refugee camps more than a country) and even in the churches they keep to their own circles.

I celebrate Thanksgiving by ignoring it, although I did watch the Alabama Auburn game yesterday. I hope the Auburn coach made his team walk home. Roll Tide!
By Appleby  Nov 30, 2008
8
Nice Message , Thank you!
By Raezr  Nov 29, 2008
7
Thank you
My parents are dead now and siblings all got fighting over money
with the will so not many talk - my brother took all my belongings
from the house
I don't celebrate the same way- wait for it to get over
I usally am so generous and sending cards and gifts- I am not
this year- more was taken from me- I celebrate the lives of parents
and face that family has changed and does not want me there or would
not do what they did- everyone says get a lawyer to get your things
bakc - but I can't ,anytime I send gifts - no thank you's so I know
gift was received- I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday season at DS
By Kellie58  Nov 29, 2008
6
Your poem was all-encompassing,But I believe that grieving for a lost elder is feeling sry for ourselves. The ones we mourn; if taken from us naturally ( not by car crash etc) have completed thier circle as we all must. You wished us a healthy & authentic t-giving. I hope that you & yours can enjoy the same. Peace to your house
God Bless
By chipchip  Nov 29, 2008
5
Thank you for posting this prayer. It is one I intend to keep for my own personel "use". The holidays certainly make me melencholy every year. I guess it affect a lot of in that way. I do find myself remembering those that have gone ahead. My mom in particular. She was such a driving force in our lives. Many times it wasn't in a positive way but still...her loss is felt even 7 years later. Remembering is our way of keeping them "alive" and that's all we have now.
Hoping you had a great holiday!
By mrsmerc  Nov 28, 2008
4
This is lovely Julie -- it is usually read on the military remembrance day here in Australia when TAPS is played. But it is nice to use it as you do, and it has brought me solace today. Many thanks, Cath
By Poppycath  Nov 28, 2008
3
Happy Thanksgiving to all who log on later today!
By StellaSB  Nov 27, 2008
2
What a beautiful poem. I miss my grandmother and grandfather terribly this time of year. I will write that poem down for those times. Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving! *Melstar
By MelStar11  Nov 27, 2008
1
Very nicely put!! Thanks for sharing!!
By tickey  Nov 27, 2008
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