A full plate of turkey and side dishes may not be on everyone’s menu this Thanksgiving. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

I don’t want to get (too much) into the history of a holiday set around a myth that Pilgrims were the first settlers of America, and a friendly feast took place with turkey, stuffing and foods not yet invented. There is a lot of negativity around this holiday, so perhaps agree to talk about it or ignore it like other difficult issues. We can’t speak if we have food in our mouths, so please pass the sweet potato casserole.

Another school of thought would be accepting that we don’t know everything about the past. It is reasonable for the indigenous people inhabiting a continent to be the ones welcoming strangers to their land, not the other way around.

Since 1970 the Wampanoag people and other Native American tribes have observed Thanksgiving Day as the National Day of Mourning (NDOM) because European settlers brought death to them via disease, oppression and war. Thanksgiving is a day of protest and remembrance for them and many others.

The other dark side of a holiday focusing on food is the large number of people needing help to fill their tables. If we are lucky, our day is full of leftovers, gratitude and family gatherings, but the picture-perfect centerpiece is the overflowing cornucopia. That abundance is also a myth to some people, whether it’s a lack of family, food or both.

It’s easier to bury our heads in the sofa while contemplating whether chocolate chip pie is a pie or a glorified cookie. (I think it’s a cookie in a crust.) The reality is that people’s circumstances change all the time. One day, we can have it all, and the next day, we depend on the generosity of our neighbors. We try to make sure our children always remember that life is a delicate balance, especially during the holidays.

There are plenty of places to give back. Giving shouldn’t be detrimental to one’s family’s well-being. It can be as simple as participating in a charity Turkey Trot or buying an extra box of cereal and dropping it in the grocery store donation box. It can be checking on neighbors or friends. It can be serving a meal to other people or bringing something extra to someone in need.

I hope you are lucky enough for second helpings of gratitude, good health and a full belly. Happy Thanksgiving.