The Thanksgiving Holiday in America is one of extended families coming together for dinner in the spirit of gratitude. Most families spread the table with the classic dishes of turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie.
For many holiday celebrations in my childhood, we walked across the backyard canopy of mango and avocado trees to our neighbors, Uncle John and Aunt Flo. My parents had no close family nearby to visit for Thanksgiving. This retired couple had become our extended family. The bond was not blood, but perhaps something stronger. Although Aunt Flo and Uncle John had lived in New York for decades, they combined the American with their Puerto Rican traditions at every Thanksgiving: arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), pasteles (deliciousness wrapped in green banana leaves), lechon (roast pork), and many more dishes made it into the holiday rotation. My memories of Thanksgiving are filled with an extended Puerto Rican family, Span-glish conversation, laughter, and lots of food.
Uncle John was as wide as he was tall. With white hair and a kind round face, wearing button down short white sleeves and light blue trousers as a “uniform,” he was a quiet embodiment of Santa Clause all year long. His wife, Aunt Flo, was short and stout in contrast to his roundness. About four feet and seven inches with hair dyed autumn brown, she was the stern Mrs. Clause to his Santa. Like Napoleon, she was dwarfed in stature and girth standing next to him, but there was no denying that she was in charge. They had the kind of love that understood and made up for each others’ shortcomings and over-bearings.
Their dogs were their children, especially Bo-Bo, a mixed breed medium-sized brown and white hound. The two black Labrador retrievers were older and slower; they seemed like the grandparents compared to Bo-bo’s boundless energy. The baby of the family, Bo-bo followed Uncle John everywhere and chased every squirrel in our yard. He was the only dog that Uncle John would take for a walk because he did not need a leash.
When Uncle John and Aunt Flo found out that there was no one to watch me and my brother after school, my brother and I became their adopted grandchildren. We are not connected by blood, but by a bond forged by their infinite kindness to an immigrant family. recently moved from Jamaica We celebrated holidays and birthdays together, went to church on Sundays with Aunt Flo, sat on the front porch with Uncle John as he watched over the afterschool traffic–the watching kept everyone safe, parents knew him, and called out a greeting when they saw him. They were the neighborhood grandparents.
Acts of Kindness
I am grateful for their presence in my life. Uncle John and Aunt Flo passed away decades ago, but their memories linger with me, especially on Thanksgiving Day. If I had one thing to tell them, it would be “Gracias!” (Thank you!)
The many acts of kindness of Uncle John and Aunt Flo inspire me with a mission to pass on this kindness into the world.
Gratitude Uncovers Mission
The moments in my life where I am most grateful have guided me to uncover the people, events, things, and principles that are most important to me. As I reflect on my life, the moments that I most appreciate are often moments of kindness–like Uncle John dropping by to meet the new neighbors and Aunt Flo giving us our first Christmas tree.
As a storyteller, when I reflect on the stories that I craft and choose to tell, I unconsciously gravitate to sharing stories of kindness. These stories fulfill my mission and inspire me (and hopefully others) to continued acts of kindness.
From a guiding mission of kindness, to more focused intention of storytelling, to specific goals. Purposeful accomplishments are not just checked off the list of goals and then discarded; these accomplishments continue to inspire me towards my mission.
- What are the stories that guide your life?
- What stories help you to create a mission?
- What accomplishments will continue to inspire you?
Release and Renewal New Year Retreat: Finding Your Sacred Mission
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