Thanksgiving 2022
Many holidays offer us a time for reflection when we can take a pause from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to think about everything around us. For many of us, it may not be often that we are able to hit “pause” on our daily lives. From school to work to sports and everything in between, life has a way of keeping us pretty busy. In fact, many of us may not know exactly how to hit “pause”. What do you do? What do you think about? Where is this “pause” button you keep talking about?
This week, many of us are afforded a wonderful opportunity to pause for Thanksgiving. Most of us are off of school or work, and have some extra down time. That down time probably includes football, giant Charlie Brown balloons, and cooking a family feast big enough to feed a small town. But there’s also moments of quiet where we’re given a chance to think.
Traditionally, our thoughts are supposed to be on what we’re thankful for. In thinking about the things we have, thoughts may also arise about the “have nots”. Many of us are fortunate in the opportunities we have been given. This is not a bad thing, and is absolutely something to be thankful for! But in the spirit of fairness and well-rounded thinking, it is also true that there are people out there not as fortunate as us. And while we may have many things that we are thankful for, it’s important to think about those who might need a little something extra to be thankful for.
As we gather with family and friends to celebrate all that we have, we encourage everyone to also think about ways you can add some joy to those who need it. Whether it’s writing a Thanksgiving letter with kind words, donating to great causes such as Sunrise Day Camp or our Hanukkah Toy Drive: Benefitting Toys for Tots, or simply telling those around you how much they mean to you, there’s so many ways to add some “thanks” to other people’s lives. That’s what makes the Camp Chi Family so special. We are able to appreciate and celebrate ourselves, while also lifting up those who need some extra support!
The Camp Chi Family is what we’re the most thankful for this season. The way everyone displays Kavod, Chesed, and Kahilah, brightening up the world around them is inspiriting. You all are what keeps us going, what helps us pause and think, and what gives us a reason to say “thanks”!