Dr. Jim Surrell, Journal columnist

In just two days, we will celebrate our annual Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 26, 2020. Of course, this is a traditional special time when many of us have the opportunity to be thankful as we gather together with family and friends. Certainly, many of us have much to be thankful for as we enjoy the great environment offered to us here as residents of our great Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Thanksgiving Day was first recognized as an official federal holiday by the United States government when President George Washington proclaimed the first national Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. For many years there was no specific national date set for the nation to celebrate a Thanksgiving Day. At that time, not all of our states celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. The states that chose to have a Thanksgiving Day celebration picked their own specific date. Therefore, it did not always fall on a Thursday. Finally, in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a federal bill officially proclaiming our United States Thanksgiving Day holiday to always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

I sometimes think about what the letters in certain words could also mean if we used those letters as an abbreviation for additional possible thoughts and meanings. For example, perhaps the letters in the word “H.O.P.E” could stand for the following: Help Other People Everywhere. Certainly, our helping others may well offer them some hope. Then, as I think about our annual 2020 Thanksgiving Day, I wonder if the letters in the word “Thanksgiving” might possibly suggest the following:

T – “Thank You” can never be said too many times.

H – Help others whenever you have the opportunity.

A – Attitude is our most important choice every day.

N – Never, ever gossip about anybody, and never listen to other people gossip.

K – Keep all your thoughts positive.

S – Share the blessings you have been given with others in need.

G – Grant me the wisdom to give to others.

I – Influence others by your positive words.

V – Value your friends and they will value you even more.

I – Inspire others by your actions.

N – Note and give thanks for the contributions of others.

G – Give thanks for your family and friends all year long.

OK, following are just five of my silly Thanksgiving Day “groaner jokes” for you.

Why did they want the Thanksgiving turkey to join the band? It was because he had the drumsticks.

They kicked the Thanksgiving turkey off the baseball team because he always hit “fowl” balls.

Which side of the Thanksgiving turkey has the most feathers on it? The outside.

If April showers bring May flowers, what do Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims.

Why was the Thanksgiving soup so expensive? It was because it was a “24 carrot” soup.

On a more serious and appropriate note, on this upcoming Thanksgiving Day let us also remember and give thanks to all our past and present military personnel, law enforcement personnel, fire fighters, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, and to all others who do so much to protect our freedoms and keep us safe. This is also a great time of year to offer thanks by making a donation to a local charity of your choice, or to volunteer your personal time and talents to serve others. I wish you all a most Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving for 2020.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Jim Surrell is the author of “The ABC’s For Success In All We Do” and the “SOS (Stop Only Sugar) Diet” books.Contact Dr. Surrell by email at sosdietdoc@gmail.com.