Thanksgiving Holiday and Learning to be Grateful

Las Vegas Martial Arts

There are so many things we can be grateful for this holiday. As someone who came in a household myself with a single mom who raised me alone in a small apartment’s in Las Vegas I always appreciated everything we had as a kid especially as I got older. We must be grateful with all the things our parents give us and what life put in front of us. As I learned Karate in Las Vegas, I learned the value of being appreciative of my mother and the efforts she’s made even when we were alone.

Gratitude is a universal virtue that holds particular significance during Thanksgiving, and martial art students have compelling reasons to express gratitude, especially toward their parents. Firstly, parents often play a pivotal role in supporting their children’s martial arts journey, providing encouragement, transportation to classes, and financial resources for equipment and fees. Expressing gratitude is an acknowledgment of this commitment and investment in their personal development.

Moreover, martial arts instill values such as discipline, respect, and perseverance, and parents are instrumental in reinforcing these principles at home. Gratitude towards parents recognizes their role as partners in the broader lessons learned through martial arts training.

Parents also act as cheerleaders, attending tournaments, belt ceremonies, and practices. Their presence symbolizes unwavering support and encouragement. This Thanksgiving, expressing gratitude is an opportunity for martial art students to reflect on the shared experiences, lessons learned, and the sense of achievement gained through their martial arts journey, thanks in no small part to their parents’ dedication.

Additionally, gratitude fosters positive relationships and strengthens the bond between martial art students and their parents. It creates an atmosphere of appreciation and understanding, reinforcing the importance of familial support in every aspect of life, including the pursuit of martial arts excellence. Ultimately, being grateful during Thanksgiving is a way for martial art students to honor the role their parents play in shaping their character, fostering discipline, and guiding them on a path of personal growth and self-discovery.

How can some kids show they are grateful during thanksgiving? 

Kids can express gratitude to their parents during Thanksgiving in thoughtful and meaningful ways. Here are some ideas:

• Handmade Cards: Encourage kids to create personalized thank-you cards expressing their gratitude. Handmade cards with heartfelt messages and drawings add a personal touch.
• Cook or Bake Together: Kids can participate in the Thanksgiving meal preparations by assisting their parents in cooking or baking. This collaborative effort not only shows gratitude but also fosters a sense of togetherness.

• Thanksgiving Crafts: Engage in Thanksgiving-themed crafts as a family. Create decorations or small projects that symbolize gratitude, such as a gratitude tree where each family member adds leaves with things they are thankful for.
• Acts of Service: Perform small acts of service for parents, such as cleaning up after the Thanksgiving meal, helping with chores, or organizing spaces in the house. Actions often speak louder than words.
• Expressing Feelings: Encourage open communication. Kids can express their feelings verbally, sharing specific aspects of their parents’ support that they are thankful for. This could happen during a Thanksgiving meal conversation or as part of a family tradition.
• Family Activity: Plan a family activity that everyone can enjoy. Whether it’s playing board games, going for a walk, or watching a movie together, spending quality time reinforces gratitude.
• Create a Gratitude List: Have kids create a list of things they are grateful for about each parent. This could include qualities, actions, or special memories that they cherish.
• Surprinda se Gesture: Plan a surprise gesture to show appreciation. This could be as simple as bringing them their favorite snack or writing a note and leaving it in a place where they’ll find it unexpectedly.
• Family Reflection: Take a moment during the Thanksgiving celebration for a family reflection time. Each member can express what they are thankful for, creating a positive and appreciative atmosphere.
• Offer Help: If there are specific tasks related to Thanksgiving preparations or post-celebration clean-up, kids can proactively offer their help without being asked.
• By engaging in these gestures, children not only express gratitude during Thanksgiving but also contribute to a positive and loving family atmosphere.

Meet My Mother

Adenda Nieto (Left ) My Tita Nida on the Right from the Philippines

My mother who was an immigrant native to the Philippines came to this country on a work visa as a Nurse from UMC. In the 1980’s it was her dream to be a United States citizen. As much as I loved my mother, my father had a very short run and left me as a baby so she was forced to raised me in Las Vegas alone in a little apartment near Martin Lurcher King Blvd. and Charleston near the Hospital where she would later work for nearly 25 years.

She was always working, long days 14 hours days, she had a dream to be in this country and make it and she was determined to do so. She wanted to show that stability was the most important thing to her and she wanted to show her family that she had the strength and capacity to show us that this was the country to make it happen. That through hard work and no excuses that you could become anything you set your mind to be.

My mother did just that, nothing can in her way as she wanted to show she was a good citizen and make sure she could provide a wonderful life for our small family even alone.

 

I will always be grateful to my mother and how she raised us when Las Vegas was a small city. This is why I want my martial arts students to be grateful to how they treat their parents because it always takes work, time, money and so much more to build a great family.  We can never really understand why our families sacraficse so much for us during the holidays and I want to make our kids realize that time is very short, so appreciate your family while you still can because they wont be here forever.

-Sensei Lorenzo Sandoval

Ageless Martial Arts