Thanksgiving, as we all know, is a holiday celebrated in the United States in November, and in a few other countries on various dates.

It’s said that that the US holiday commemorates an event that took place in 1621 when Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrated together. The story goes that the Native Americans had helped the Pilgrims during a hard winter, when their food supplies were scarce.

The facts are probably more complicated than this, but the story conveys an important message, one of reconciliation.  We need to remember that we in the US are all immigrants, living in a land where Native Americans were the original inhabitants.

As human beings we are all the same, with the same kinds of minds, bodies, and emotions. And while so many are suffering in this country and around the globe, I offer a prayer of thanksgiving for those who are reaching out to bridge the divide between peoples and nations, and I aspire to do the same–in whatever small way I can.

May this year bring greater peace and harmony between people everywhere.

“Spend five minutes at the beginning of each day remembering we all want the same things (to be happy and be loved) and we are all connected to one another.” – Dalai Lama