400 Years of Thankfulness

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first successful corn harvest, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the colony’s Native American allies. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days. While no record exists of the first Thanksgiving’s exact menu, much of what we know about what happened at the first Thanksgiving comes from Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow, who wrote:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

All of this took place just a short drive south from where we at DPS Insurance call home, in Plymouth. As we celebrate the 400th anniversary of this day, we can’t help but be thankful for all of our friends, families, and clients who have made our lives so wonderful. Even in the darkest times, we can count on you to lift us up – and I assure you, you can count on us as well.

This year, as you sit around the table and give thanks for all that you have, celebrating with loved ones, we ask that you really consider the meaning of the season. This celebration was about coming together and living harmoniously with each other. Sharing the fruits of our labor for the betterment of everyone around us. Not because a government agent forced the issue, but because it was the right thing to do.

There’s been a lot of pain in suffering all around us over the last two years. Political chasms have resulted in every issue becoming politicized. In reality, most of the problems we face aren’t political at all, they are human issues. With so much public dissent on any given topic, it’s easy to get caught up in everything we as a society may disagree on, but for a moment just take a breath and focus on what we do agree on. What we can do together to start improving lives.

All it takes is a little action to brighten someone’s day. A donation of time, or goods. A meal on a table that would otherwise be left bare. Even just taking a moment to help someone can set off a chain reaction of happiness that is sure to make somebody’s day just a little bit happier and brighter. We are at the epicenter of where this all occurred 400 years ago, and though that story is not all sunshine and rainbows, we can look back at it and take all of the greatest lessons and apply them now, learning from and avoiding the mistakes that were made in the aftermath of the first Thanksgiving.

So let’s celebrate the season by embracing togetherness, by looking to our neighbors, and recognizing that our differences are not so great that we can’t find common ground. Donate to a local charity, and if you can’t afford to donate goods, donate time. The only way forward is together, and as residents of where the first Thanksgiving took place, we can be the shining beacon – the city on the hill – and like our ancestors before us, welcome togetherness and community.

We wish you all the happiest that Thanksgiving has to offer.