Jacqueline Sebiane's Thanksgiving 2013

This posting has a very important purpose so please keep reading.  It’s amazing to me that a blog I started to express myself and write about some of my life experiences struck a chord with so many people.  The birth of my blog came after some firefighters at the Redondo Beach Fire Department involved me in a sex scandal and the Fire Chief and Mayor of Redondo tried to cover it up.  I cannot believe that it turned into this.  My blog has reached a worldwide audience in the following countries: the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Guadeloupe, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Puerto Rico, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Benin, Jamaica, Indonesia, Malaysia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Aruba, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Myanmar (Burma), Afghanistan, Botswana, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Morocco, Madagascar, Montenegro, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, Egypt, Israel, Macedonia, Mauritius, Armenia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Andorra, Angola, Bahrain, Belarus, Yemen, Qatar, Tunisia, Brunei, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Malawi and Martinique.  This is very humbling.  And because my audience is so vast, I am taking this opportunity to make some thought-provoking statements and touch people in a meaningful way.

Today is Thanksgiving Day; a traditional American holiday.  This day has a different significance for everyone and it is spent in a variety of ways.  Some spend the entire day cooking to have a feast with family and/or friends.  Some go from house to house of friends and family to gorge on food.  Some spend time running in the local marathon.  Some spend the day shopping the relentlessly advertised sales.  And some people find meaning by serving food to the needy or homeless.  Regardless of how Americans spend this day, the purpose of the day is to be thankful.  I chose to spend this day in complete solitude enjoying my favorite things and contemplating life.  This morning as I enjoyed a spinach & cheese bagel and dark roast coffee on the outdoor patio of my favorite coffee shop there was a moment where I felt complete bliss.  The sky was pristine with fluffy white clouds and the cool wind was blowing through my hair.  I was facing away from the sun which was warming my back as I gazed into the reflection in the window.  I could see this perfect image of the empty road, trees, blue sky and country-like store fronts.  It was so perfect it looked like a painting.  I sat there in silence deep in thought with my expensive cashmere scarf wrapped snuggly around my neck.  I realized at that moment how blessed I truly am.  I have food to eat and water to drink.  I have a home to live in, a warm bed to sleep in and a car to drive.  I have money to spend and a way to earn money.  I can walk.  I can see.  And I have a healthy functioning brain.  I am disease free.  And both of my parents are alive.  My list of blessings is long.  I realize that there are people who have no home, no food, no water, little or no money and no opportunity to make money.  Some people have cancer or other serious diseases.  Some are suffering in the hospital.  Some are addicted to drugs.  There are people who are mentally disabled.  And people who are experiencing deep physical or emotional pain.

Please take this moment to reflect on your life and your blessings.  Don’t let the things you want make you forget the things that you have.  Please make an effort to help someone in need.  There are people suffering all around the world and you have the power effectuate a change.  What seems like an insignificant gesture of kindness can have a significant impact on someone in need.  God bless you and thank you for reading my blog. 

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