Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
– Cicero


This month we will celebrate our best and most important holiday, Thanksgiving. While celebrations of the harvest have existed for as long as civilization (for indeed it was agriculture that necessitated both), this particular holiday is uniquely American. Or at least it was until other former British colonies started having a festival called Thanksgiving too.

Okay, I know some enjoy pointing out the tragic irony of the American Thanksgiving: that it was originally a celebration of the bountiful harvest provided by the native inhabitants of the land, who were subsequently slaughtered by the beneficiaries of that kindness. But the tragedy of one action does not undo the beauty of another.

The beauty of that first Thanksgiving day rests in their acknowledgement of the blessings and good fortune they had received by the very fact that they were still alive. The pilgrims and the Native Americans saw the bounty before them and had the dignity, respect, and intelligence to be grateful.

I think perhaps we should all try to bring those very things to our Thanksgiving table this year and see how it improves our understanding of this holiday. No matter where you hail from, couldn’t we all use a day when we collectively sit around a gathering of our loved ones and BE thankful?

What are you thankful for?
I am thankful for my family more than anything else, for they are my true sources of sustenance and joy. I am thankful for my awareness of the importance and impact of my natural beauty products. I am thankful for crisp autumn mornings and the ever-present British rain (without it I would get NOTHING done!) and my friends. I am thankful that I am still on the right side of the grass.
And bacon. I am very thankful for bacon.

With Love and Thanks,

Brittany

I leave you with this fun recipe that will help use up some of those left-overs.



Photographer: Stephanie Frey

Cranberry juice helps detoxify the skin and is particularly useful for those who are acne-prone or suffer from psoriasis or have oily skin. In addition cranberries help reduce skin inflammation, redness, and itchy, irritated skin.

Cranberry Anti-Aging Face Mask
Ingredients

1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup seedless red grapes
2 teaspoons grapefruit juice

1 raw egg white
Directions:
Mix ingredients until it becomes a paste. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to let the mixture thicken. Remove from the fridge and let sit for about 10 minutes. Spread the mixture on clean, dry skin, avoiding the eye area. Relax for 15 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.
Be sure to test for sensitivity by applying the mask to a less sensitive area of the body, such as the forearm before applying to the face.