Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s the holiday where we focus on who and what gives us pause to say a prayer of gratitude. Or is it thankfulness?

Is there a difference between them? Lots of home decor says “Thankful, Grateful, Blessed,” but is that redundant? Let’s talk about it!

It’s 25 degrees here, and our chilly chicks (sounds better than ‘frozen chickens’) wanted a break, so they’re letting the turkeys have the spotlight today!

Grateful or Thankful?

Is there a difference between thankful and grateful? What about gratefulness and gratitude? They’re similar words that are often used as synonyms, but do they actually mean the same thing?
 
Being thankful can be more about expressing our feelings, like saying “thank you” when someone does something nice for us. By definition, being thankful is feeling pleased and relieved.

By some definitions, gratitude is an action for something or someone you appreciate, like sending a handwritten thank you note.

Gratefulness is sometimes viewed as a more emotional or empathetic version of being thankful. Unlike gratitude, gratefulness doesn’t require waiting for outside circumstances to conform to your desires.

Being thankful, feeling grateful, and showing gratitude are all concepts of appreciation and are hopefully habits you practice. At the end of the day, most people perceive them as interchangeable. Even the dictionaries have varying definitions!

I’m coming down on the side of “just live your life not taking anything for granted and take time to let other people know how much they mean to you.” Handwritten notes are super special, but phone calls and emails work too!

And if you need more encouragement, here are some fantastic benefits touted by UCLA Health:

• Reduces depression (winter blues, I see you)
• Lessens anxiety and stress (yes, please!)
• Supports heart health (hearts are def important to your health)
• Improved sleep (good things happen while you sleep!)

You get the point! And to make sure you know… I’m very grateful, thankful, and appreciative that you subscribe to Fowl Language!

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” ~Eckhart Tolle

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.” ~A.A. Milne

Chicken (or Turkey!) Chat

Let’s talk turkey! Have you ever wondered how the tradition of pardoning a turkey came about? No? You can stop reading! Yes? Keep going! The best I can ascertain is that President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Tad, asked him to spare a turkey named Jack from a holiday meal. President Lincoln obliged his son and pardoned the fortunate turkey.

After that, it gets a little murky. Some say President Harry Truman pardoned a turkey in 1947, and others say his remark when accepting the turkeys was that they would “come in handy” for Christmas dinner. It doesn’t sound as if they were receiving a presidential pardon!

Skip ahead to this year, where the lucky duck turkey finalists are from the Jennie-O (love that name!) Turkey Store in Willmar, Minnesota. A private coach will transport them to Washington, D.C., for a 2-night stay at the luxury 5-star Willard InterContinental Washington Hotel (paid for by the National Turkey Federation).

The grateful turkeys will be walking the red carpet upon their arrival at the hotel, and next, they’ll be ushered into their room, which is thoughtfully covered in wood chips to make their stay more comfortable.

IDK about you, but I don’t want to stay in the same room that had these two turkeys doing “turkey stuff” in there! You can see them on the bed with a white bedspread. Um, no, I know how messy birds are! On Thanksgiving Day, they’ll be pardoned at a ceremony at the White House.

2022’s pardoned duo, Chocolate and Chip, were sent off to North Carolina State University, where they will live out their retirement at the Talley Turkey Education Unit. We’re still waiting for word on where this year’s birds will go post-pardon (or their names). ??

Thanks for reading (and sharing!) Fowl Language

Check out these turkeys that wander through our property; they look a lot better than the ones headed to the White House!

I’m no turkey regarding word skills, and I’m here to help you not look like a turkey when a stray typo makes its way to your email list, website, online course, or some other prominent location.

I hope you find an abundance of things to be thankful for and spend some time showing gratitude. And, btw, the #jollychickens gotta eat… and contrary to popular belief, chicken scratch ain’t cheap (neither are deep-fried turkeys), so I appreciate referrals! ?

About Us

“Us” is me, Jennie Jolly – the Diva of Diction… the Empress of Editing… the Mistress of Manuscripts! (I’m not bragging because ChatGPT gave me those titles!)

I solve one big problem for my clients: I keep their message edited, elevated, and effective by providing excellent editing + proofreading + content writing services. A well-edited piece is as satisfying as a coop full of contented hens! So, step into my henhouse, shake off the dust, and let me help you cultivate your best writing yet.

Learn more about my services here.

Don’t be chicken… let’s chat!