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Health & Fitness

Why Can't Every Day Be Thanksgiving?

If our state and local officials wake up on the fourth Thursday of November filled with solutions to our problems, then let's make every day Thanksgiving.

I just finished reading Governor Malloy’s Thanksgiving message (). He spoke of the challenges we have faced and the challenges we will face. He hit all the key notes—our troops, our storms, our economy and our less fortunate—then wrapped it up in a bow of thankfulness and resolve to make things better.

I’m sure if I read the other messages from the other governors they would have the same tone and the same message to the people of their states. There’s nothing wrong with that. All of us are facing similar challenges and looking for ways to solve them. And there’s only so many different ways to convey reverence and thankfulness to the citizens of your state.

I’m an optimist. I want to believe that the people who devote their lives to public service truly want to do the right things and make our lives better. I’m also a realist. Having spent ten years on a nine member board of education, I know firsthand the roadblocks faced when the eight other members have different ideas of “doing the right things” and any compromise often means a very watered-down version of a solution that ultimately really doesn’t  solve the issue.

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But if we can stop for a day of thanks and reflection, then why can’t these affirmations and declarations carry us past midnight? These feelings of inspiration and motivation shouldn’t be dependent on a particular date on the calendar. Our state and local officials don’t wake up on the fourth Thursday of November to find themselves magically filled with positive and productive solutions to our problems.

But if they do, then let’s make every day Thanksgiving.

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