Happy Thanksgiving!
Welcome back to The Southerly Blog! We are excited this month because Thanksgiving is coming up soon and we have some fun Thanksgiving trivia to share, as well as some tips about ways to express gratitude. Whether you’ll be hanging out at your apartment, having dinner here in Towson, MD, or heading across the country for dinner, we want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! Now on to the trivia.
Thanksgiving Trivia
True or False — The real Plymouth rock is cracked. True. It was cracked during the Revolutionary War.
Why is the male turkey often referred to as "Tom Turkey?" It’s after Thomas Jefferson because Jefferson was opposed to the idea of a turkey as our national bird.
The first Thanksgiving in 1621 was believed to have lasted how many days? 3 days.
By the 19th century, celebrating Thanksgiving is said to have been the origin of what table tradition? Having a kiddies' table for the children.
What is the busiest travel day of the year? The Friday after Thanksgiving.
True or False — Turkeys can drown if they look up in the rain. True.
In October of 1777, George Washington declared an "All Colony Thanksgiving" because he was feeling really good due to what? The victory over Saratoga.
True or False— The pilgrims dressed colorfully. True. The puritans wore black and white, and the pilgrims wore colorful clothing.
Of the original 102 pilgrims that came, approximately how many survived to celebrate the first Thanksgiving? 50.
On Being Grateful
Research has shown that people who make a habit of expressing gratitude on a regular basis are happier and healthier than those who do not. This Harvard Medical School Health Publications article, “In Praise of Gratitude,” explores some of the reasoning behind the findings. The article also includes some ways to “cultivate gratitude on a regular basis.” Here are three ideas from those listed:
Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you and mentally thank the individual.
Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as "peace"), it is also possible to focus on what you're grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.).
Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one your thoughts about the gifts you've received each day.
We invite members of our apartment community to focus on gratitude as you are out and about in Towson this month and see the difference it may make in your life. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading today’s blog post.