A Letter from Jessie

Thanksgiving

Right now, the theme of Thanksgiving thankfulness is likely health. In a recent poll, 100% of people want to be healthy. We are thankful for things because we have them or get to do them. And many of us have an abundance of things to be thankful for. Family and friends (although hopefully at a distance), bright and shiny children, steady employment in a field of our choice, take-out from our favorite local restaurants, and the opportunity to choose.

Each day we get to choose how we show up for ourselves and others. This year, we have seen people show up with tremendous courage, bravery, charity, intellect, and creativity. But we have also seen rage, disparity, narcissism, and the harsh realities of those pushed to the margins – racism, oppression, discrimination, and injustice. We have seen how vulnerable humanity is – lying in hospital beds gasping for breath and dying prone in the street desperate to breathe. It didn’t and doesn’t have to be this way. We get to choose.

The one thing that I am most grateful for this Thanksgiving season is that I have had a place to go every day to engage in meaningful and productive work where I am able to serve my employees and our customers through our shared love of plants. I am not particularly happy or sad or mad. I, like all of you, am taking things day by day and even hour by hour as I exist somewhere between joy and despair. The only thing that is in my control is how I am going to show up for myself and others.

Be safe this Thanksgiving and holiday season. Mr. Jacobson, Walter, Margaret, and I are going to enjoy cooking together, playing games, and watching movies on Thanksgiving Day.

Cheers to a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

All the best,

Jessie