Enjoy Thanksgiving Day -- it might make you feel better

Have you ever considered the connection between the Thanksgiving holiday and good mental health?

I am writing this less than a week from Thanksgiving Day. Recently, I completed a story about beating the winter blues for our local newspaper. We all know some people do not handle the holidays very well. The brighter the lights, the dimmer their outlook on life.

I interviewed Sara Ritter, chief clinical officer of the Hamilton Center, and did some online research for the article. A common thread that ran through all the information was that if people are to fight the blues and even depression, they must get outside themselves.

One way to do that is to volunteer. When we help others we forget about ourselves and what we lack. Another way is to spend time with people.

I love our church in Alamo. Each week I look forward to the fellowship and soon we will be decorating for Christmas on a Sunday afternoon.

I love being a Rotarian. Last week, our luncheon consisted of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy and cranberry sauce. We even had pumpkin pie with whipped cream. We talked and laughed over the meal and then heard a great program about lour local Community Foundation and a challenge from the Lilly Foundation.

I told my wife it felt like Christmas when I walked out of the restaurant. I just couldn't help but be cheered by that meeting. It is pretty difficult to be blue while laughing with family and friends.

Thanksgiving is a time for fellowship, whether it is in a family setting or by taking advantage of the many public Thanksgiving dinners put on by churches and other organizations this week.

It is also a time to count our blessings. The blues and even depression can come when we are insecure about the future. When we are thankful for the many blessings we have received over the years, we realize that if we found solutions for our problems in the past, we will do so again.

That is true not only of our personal problems such as money or health but world problems beyond our ability solve.

When the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated, world issues were not much different than they are today. Those Americans knew what it was like for the country to be at war. Many had lost loved ones in battle. We think about our nation's debt and how little the dollar is worth but we have a much higher standard of living than ever before in our history.

Do yourself and your friends and family a favor. Celebrate Thanksgiving this year. It doesn't have to be on Thursday. Can't get out of the house? Then pick up your phone and call someone. Spend a little time thinking about them and see what a blessing it makes in your own life.

Frank Phillips can be contacted at frank.phillips@gmail.com.