Robert Simms’ Post

Thanksgiving: A Time for Reflection and Awareness As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important to pause and reflect on its history and meaning. For many Native Americans, this holiday brings mixed emotions—a celebration of gratitude and community, but also a reminder of complex histories and ongoing struggles. Gratitude is a deeply rooted value in Indigenous cultures, tied to our relationships with each other, the land, and the gifts of the natural world. Yet, it’s equally important to acknowledge the broader historical context of Thanksgiving, a narrative that often overlooks the experiences and resilience of Indigenous peoples. This year, I encourage us all to approach Thanksgiving with mindfulness and intention. Let’s honor the land we gather on, recognize the contributions of Indigenous peoples, and seek opportunities to learn, share, and advocate for Native voices. May this season inspire deeper connections and a shared commitment to equity, understanding, and truth. Wishing everyone a meaningful and reflective Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start planning your family's legacy! As you gather around the table, take the opportunity to turn cherished family stories and traditions into a legacy that will last for generations. Our latest blog shows you how to: ✅ Spark meaningful conversations during the holidays ✅ Preserve your family’s unique values and stories ✅ Build a legacy that reflects what matters most Don’t miss this chance to make Thanksgiving more than a holiday—make it the start of something truly lasting. Read the blog now and get inspired: https://lnkd.in/edGBwThY #ThanksgivingLegacy #FamilyFirst #PreserveYourStory #LegacyPlanning

As we celebrate Thanksgiving daily, let us reflect on our blessings in the United States. Let others know how grateful you are for the value they bring to your life. Life is short, and we never know if it may be the last time we see someone. While some in the world have it better, many are deprived of love, food, shelter, and water, living amid wars or turmoil. Gratitude begins with recognizing what we have: * Relationships: Family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, partners * Personal Well-being: Health, freedom, life, happiness, peace * Personal Growth: Opportunities to grow, learn, and reflect * Challenges: Pain, setbacks, and loss that shape us * Experiences: Travel, milestones, celebrations * Material Needs: Shelter, food, stability * Spiritual/Philosophical: Purpose, faith, gratitude Celebrating the U.S., we honor: 1. Freedom and Rights: Our liberties are protected by the Constitution. 2. Opportunities: Paths for education and growth. 3. Diversity: A melting pot of cultures. 4. Natural Beauty: Awe-inspiring landscapes. 5. Democratic Ideals: A government shaped by its people. Let’s cherish and nurture these gifts together, sharing gratitude and striving for a brighter future." I want to thank you for being part of my life! 🩷 What are you grateful for? #ThanksgivingEveryDay #GratitudeMatters #CelebrateLife #BeThankful #AmericanDream #DiversityAndUnity #LandOfOpportunity #FreedomAndRights #LifeLessons #GratitudeInChallenges #ThankfulHeart #CommunityAndGrowth #NaturalBeauty #DemocraticValues

Thanksgiving: A Time for Gratitude, Reflection, and Renewal Thanksgiving is one of the most cherished American traditions, but have we paused to consider the stories we tell about it—and the ones we don’t? As we gather around tables filled with abundance, this holiday invites us to reflect: What does it truly mean to give thanks? Are we honoring the spirit of gratitude, or have we drifted into something else entirely? In this article, I explore the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving—its history, its evolution, and its potential to become more authentic, compassionate, and connected. What if this day could hold even more power, not just as a celebration, but as a moment to realign with what matters most? Join me in rediscovering what Thanksgiving can mean—for ourselves, for others, and for the world. ✨ READ/LISTEN Here: https://lnkd.in/e9HTk6F9 No time to read? No problem! Medium has a 🎧 LISTEN button in the top right corner, so you can listen on the go! 🏃♂️🚗 #ThanksgivingReflection #MindfulLiving #TrueGratitude #CompassionFirst #KindnessMatters

Thanksgiving has become a controversial social and political topic in the USA in recent years, including articles with titles like “The True, Dark History Behind Thanksgiving”. But is the new “history” about Thanksgiving factually accurate? Learn all about it, including Lincoln’s role in the creation of the modern Thanksgiving tradition, in my blog post from 2022: “Thanksgiving: Celebrate It or Cancel It?” #Thanksgiving https://lnkd.in/gAt2PdPH

Thanksgiving is a time to pause and reflect on the people and moments that inspire growth and gratitude. Wishing you and your loved ones a day filled with warmth, connection, and celebration. Here’s to a season of appreciation and abundance! #ThanksgivingDay #HappyThanksgiving #Thanksgiving2024 #LasVegasItOnlyHappensHere #LasVegasWealthPlanning #LasVegasFinancialAdvisor #WomenInWealth

Here’s a look at thanksgiving themes and one Thanksgiving story.

As those who celebrate gather for Thanksgiving, remember that this day carries profoundly different meanings for different people. While many of us celebrate with family, Thanksgiving is also a National Day of Mourning. There would be no "Thanksgiving" without a reminder of the genocide, land theft, and cultural erasure that followed the arrival of colonizers in North America. We’ve been taught a one-sided story of Thanksgiving, one of peaceful feasts and friendship between settlers and the Wampanoag people in 1621. But that narrative leaves out the theft, grave robbing, and eventual massacres that followed. It also overlooks the ongoing struggles and resilience of Native communities today. Why This Matters: For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is not a celebration but a day to honor their ancestors and protest the centuries of oppression their people have faced. One example is a event organized by the Indigenous Peoples of New England, the National Day of Mourning on Cole’s Hill in Plymouth is a powerful act of remembrance and resistance. The Problem With Silence: Ignoring this history, whether in schools, workplaces, or family gatherings doesn’t make it disappear. Educators who use construction paper headdresses or reenactments unintentionally reduce rich Native cultures to stereotypes. When we skip over the truth, we miss the opportunity to understand and heal. Why Acknowledgment Is the First Step: We can’t change the past, but we can commit to learning, acknowledging, and doing better. This means recognizing the complexities of this holiday and creating space for Native voices to be heard not just in November but all year. What I’m Grateful For: This year, I’m thankful for the people who are honest about our history, who teach the full story, and who advocate for equity and inclusion. I’m reminded that change doesn’t require a perfect promise it requires a chance, a willingness to face hard truths and build something better together. Let’s use this Thanksgiving to listen, learn, and take action. If we’re truly grateful, let’s show it by standing with Native communities not just in acknowledgment but in solidarity. 💬 What are you reflecting on this Thanksgiving? Let’s talk about how we can honor the truth and move forward together. #MyUncertaintyEra #Thanksgiving #NationalDayOfMourning #Acknowledgment #Solidarity

Happy Thanksgiving? "Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas," my parents repeated these words as they learned English. While the phrase doesn't offend me, it reminds me of how this holiday—and the words tied to it—carries different meanings for different groups of people. Reflecting on my American miseducation, I recall the false narratives of Pilgrims and Native Americans sitting together, sharing a meal, and embracing peace. These lies taught as history, erase painful truths of the American story. To truly honor our shared history, we must confront it honestly, seeing it for what it was—not what we were taught to believe. In 1637, Captain John Mason and Puritan colonists massacred over 700 unarmed members of the Pequot Nation—men, women, and children—while they slept after their Green Corn Festival, a traditional day of thanksgiving gathering. Massachusetts Bay Governor John Winthrop declared a day of Thanksgiving following this atrocity. By facing this history openly, we can better understand who we are as a nation. Our collective American story is rooted in progress and transgression. Reckoning with this history doesn't mean rejecting Thanksgiving outright, but it does mean looking at it with clear eyes. The United States is far from perfect; by acknowledging our collective history—both the triumphs and the transgressions—we continually progress toward a more just and equitable society. For me, Thanksgiving isn't just about family and food; it's about using this moment to educate, reflect, and recommit my immigrant refugee story to the American tapestry.   Cook, B. (1975). AMERICAN JUSTIFICATIONS FOR MILITARY MASSACRES FROM THE PEQUOT WAR TO MYLAI. Peace & Change, 3(2/3), 4-20. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0130.1975.tb00298.x

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to start planning your family's legacy! As you gather around the table, take the opportunity to turn cherished family stories and traditions into a legacy that will last for generations. Our latest blog shows you how to: ✅ Spark meaningful conversations during the holidays ✅ Preserve your family’s unique values and stories ✅ Build a legacy that reflects what matters most Don’t miss this chance to make Thanksgiving more than a holiday—make it the start of something truly lasting. Read the blog now and get inspired: https://lnkd.in/epWXzN9S #ThanksgivingLegacy #FamilyFirst #PreserveYourStory #LegacyPlanning