In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we walked around the Londolozi village and asked what it was that our family are thankful for. Here are some of the responses we got:

FAMILY – It is a constant in a life that is ever-changing. They are the people that shine a light on both the good and the bad in you and love you regardless. In this day and age, family takes many forms and although you may not be connected by blood, family is something that you can define in whatever way you choose.

FRIENDSHIP – We are thankful for friendship because friends are our group of hand-picked teachers who we know, no matter what life’s adventures or lessons, will be at our sides for the ride.

WILDERNESS – It is the wilderness on the planet that allows the wildness in all of us to be recognised. It is the common ancient thread that runs through all humanity. We are thankful for wild spaces that remind us that we all have the same beginning. Today we give thanks that this planet still has vast tracks of wilderness that have been untouched by human hands and untrodden by human feet. The wilderness demonstrates the perfect harmony that an ecosystem can exist in, and demonstrates timelessly how things can thrive without human interference.

LOVE – There’s nothing in the world that is stronger than love. For our fellow man, for the animals that roam this planet and most importantly for ourselves. We are thankful for this amazing force for good.

COMMUNITY – We only really exist purposefully in relation to others. They are witness to our actions and our lives. So often it is our communities that provide us with the support we need and give us a sense of belonging to something bigger than just ourselves.

CLEAN AIR – Because breath is life and often the most simple and taken-for-granted things are all that we need to truly live.

SUNSHINE – Sunshine brings positivity and fosters life. It’s what fuels this planet. As it rises, it brings joy and new possibilities and as it sets, it brings beauty and a time to reflect. As the rain falls here, it is the sunshine that creates the huge potential for growth that we see.

STARLIGHT – We are thankful for starlight because it awakens us to the cosmic mystery through which we are all connected. It forces us to ask questions. The sheer scale of the stars in the night sky is a humbling experience that connects us with a greater whole.

ADVENTURE – We are thankful for adventure; that moment where fear and excitement merge and you leap into the unknown. This is what shapes our perspective, grows our courage and reminds us of the abundant opportunities that exist for those who step over the threshold and into a new realm of being.

KINDNESS – As Jack Kerouac says, “practice kindness all day to everybody and you will realise you are already in heaven now.” We are thankful for kindness because it’s the doorway to open-heartedness and open-heartedness connects us with all other beings. There is a great gift in the showing of kindness, not only in what the other receives but in how it nourishes you too.

COMPASSION – We are thankful for compassion because it takes understanding to new depths and only in really understanding each other can we understand life.

BEAUTY – We are thankful for beauty because it reminds us of an enchanted, magical life. Here we revel in the natural beauty of the wilderness each and every day.

WONDER – We are thankful for wonder because it is a gateway to the mysteries of life. A freedom that broadens our perspective, takes us outside ourselves and awakens us to the majesty of creation.

UBUNTU – We are thankful for this ancient metaphysical philosophy born in Africa but which has become a gift to the world. It is a guiding light that makes you come into the awareness of “I am because of you and you are because of me.”

HUMANITY – In the wise words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “all of our humanity is dependent on recognising the humanity in others.” We are thankful for humanity because it is the bedrock of what we all are and what binds us together regardless of our preferences, our religions or our actions.

What is it that you are thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!