It seems trite to say, but it is true—the world can be a scary place.  We worry about the economy and how it will affect our security and wellbeing. We worry about our health, and our children’s safety.  We worry about crime.  We worry about the future and what it will hold, not only for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.  And after the violence in Paris and the heightened alerts here in the U.S. and around the world, once again, we are focused on the threat of terrorism.
Without a doubt, those are all things we should be concerned about.  But we cannot allow our lives to be dominated by fear—don’t forget that the goal of terrorism is to strike such fear into people that they no longer live their lives as they had before.  The greatest success of terrorism is to destroy the freedoms and way of life that free nations hold so dear.
Yes, we should be cautious and take steps to ensure our security as best we can.  But we also need to appreciate the blessings and good fortune we have in our lives.  Do you know that there have been numerous scientific studies that show people who have adopted an “attitude of gratitude” are healthier, physically, mentally and emotionally?  They have stronger interpersonal relationships and higher self-esteem.  I am not a psychologist or a scientist, but it makes sense to me that if you are taking the time to really stop and think about what you are grateful for in your life, instead of focusing on what you don’t have or what you may or may not lose, then you are simply going to cultivate a more positive outlook.
An article in Forbes magazine last November pointed to a 2003 study that found gratitude helped people recover after the terrorist attacks of 9-11.  Reminding yourself about the good things and people in your life actually makes you stronger and more resilient.
With that in mind, stop for a moment and think about the first Thanksgiving.  The Pilgrims had left England in the hopes of finding a new home where they could worship as they chose.  Religious freedom did not exist at that time in England or in Europe.  The common people had few, if any rights that were guaranteed to them.  They were governed by monarchies led by individuals who had been born into power.  Those governments imposed a single religion on the people, and attempting to worship in another denomination was not tolerated.  Often those who refused to conform to the national religion were brutally murdered.
The Pilgrims made the treacherous journey over the ocean and eventually landed in the new world, in what is now Massachusetts.  Most of us remember studying about the Pilgrims, the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock.  But most of us probably did not absorb the dangers they faced to secure the freedoms we too often take for granted.  That first winter, half of the Pilgrims died from starvation or disease.  Who knows if those remaining would have been able to survive, if not for the friendship of the Wampanoag Indians who taught them what crops would grow well in that part of the world, and how to plant and care for them so that they would have enough food throughout the year.
In 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest with their Native American friends.  They had lost and sacrificed much.  They left the land and homes where they were born, knowing they would likely never see England again.  They had lost many of their friends and relations.  And yet, they gave thanks to God for all their blessings and bounty that first Thanksgiving.
Each of us faces hardship and challenges in life.  But all of us should remember to give thanks for the blessings we enjoy, however big or small.  And among the great blessings in our lives, is that we live in a country founded on principles of freedom—free speech, the freedom to worship as we choose, and the right and the responsibility to participate in our government for the betterment of us all.  I am thankful for the courage and sacrifices of the Pilgrims, and for the patriots who fought and died in the creation of this great country, and those who continue to serve our nation to protect our freedoms.  We truly have much to be grateful for.
I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and I thank you sincerely for the honor and privilege of allowing me to serve Senate District 8 in the Oklahoma Legislature.