Thanksgiving moments

A perfect Thanksgiving moment—pumpkin pie for breakfast. I eat slowly, savoring my treat and wondering how many others are enjoying pie this morning. I remember Thanksgivings from my childhood, the house filled with people all talking at once, the women in the kitchen laughing, the TV blaring football, kids running in and out; all joined in anticipation by the scent of roasting turkey. My moment is quieter, but no less satisfying.

I write that sentence and think, what makes a moment? The dictionary defines it as "a very brief period of time" or "an exact period of time." But every slice of time contains components, variables, life itself. So in this moment, in this room, I count these: the temperature of the room. The light in the room. The humidity or dryness of the air. The scent of flowers in a vase. 

My mind contributes the infinite variables of thought; it is productive? idle? circular? imagining? The presence of other life forms like a plant, a pet, and especially another person will all contribute their own variables, influencing what we see, feel, and think. In my current moment there are two plants both asking for water.

What do I see in this moment? My view is of a memory, a photograph. And then there is my body: my temperature, my energy level. Am I hungry or thirsty? Am I busy or resting? Do I feel anxious or relaxed? Do I want, or am I content? Do I like this pie? Yes I do.

That's a lot of information to pack into a moment, but somehow it works.

All these variables—and the unseen, uncountable others—share and enrich a single infinitesimal slice of time while contributing to our state of existence, to what we casually call life. All are proof of our deep connections to the world in every moment, every continuing now.

It's so easy to forget that life is more than the daily routine and our dreams, loves, regrets, and unthinking habits. Life is all of those things of course, but much much more. It exists in us and through us in every moment of every day, attaching us to each other and the world in unseen and unknown and incomprehensible ways. But attaching us nevertheless.

For this I am thankful, and filled with wonder.

Happy Thanksgiving!