Thanksgiving and "Sawa Bona"

“Sawa Bona” ~an African greeting that means, “I see you.”

Ubuntu, our company theme for the year, is an African tradition that tries to show us different ways to think about humanity and working together. Ubuntu suggests that as humans, we are much more alike than we are different. Ubuntu tells us that we are all individuals, but that we do not exist apart from each other.

There are some really good ideas in Ubuntu-- like people working together to help everyone, the idea that there is enough for everyone and the idea that we can best help ourselves by also helping others. We have talked about how right now, with so much of our future so shaky, it can be hard to believe we can really work together or that there is enough for everyone, enough money, enough jobs, enough opportunity. Yet, it is exactly times like these that we need these kinds of reminders most.

This Thursday, most of us will sit down with friends and family, share a meal and give thanks. It is a uniquely American tradition that is supposed to represent the early American settlers sharing a feast of thanks with the native Wampanoag Indians after time of hardship for both peoples. Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude where we give thanks for what we have and understand the connections we all share.

I can think of nothing more “Sawa Bona,” --I see you-- than sitting at a table and breaking bread. In spite of some hard times, we all have a great deal to be thankful for. Maybe it is our health, our children, a good friend or a nice meal. Happy Thanksgiving to each of you and your families.