Thanksgiving is swiftly approaching, which means a much-needed break from school, delicious food and cherished time with friends and family. We all have our own Thanksgiving traditions that we love, whether that be a specific dish; a trip away to a certain, special place; a fun thing we do to celebrate or simply who we get to spend this holiday with. Of course, yummy food is a major focus of Thanksgiving, but at its core, this holiday is about expressing gratitude for the blessings in our lives. A Thanksgiving tradition that I decided to take on each year is giving thankfulness letters to my friends and family. Every Thanksgiving, I write a letter to my best friends and each of my family members, detailing why I’m thankful for them in my life. Here are three quick steps to adopting the tradition of thankfulness letters:
- PICKING YOUR PEOPLE
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The first step is choosing how many letters you want to write and to whom you wish to write them. It’s a great idea to write a letter to the people you’ll be having Thanksgiving dinner with, to express your thankfulness for them in your life. Picking friends and family members to write to can be the simpler task; therefore, I’d also suggest writing one to the people around you that are often overlooked and underappreciated. These people may include Virginia Tech janitors, bus drivers, dining hall workers and even professors or TAs. This is the perfect time of year to take advantage of the opportunity to love those in our VT community who truly need a reminder that they are seen and heard. The main reason behind this tradition is to take the time to let the people in our lives who’ve been a blessing to us know how much we appreciate and care about them.
- DECORATING THE LETTERS
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I love to decorate. Anything involving arts and crafts — sign me up immediately. It’s such a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that someone took their time to make you something special, unique and straight from the heart. This is why most people treasure handmade gifts. I like to buy aesthetic envelopes and cards for my letters that are tailored to the personalities of my friends and family. It’s completely up to you how you want to craft your letters. Some of my fun ideas include tying them up with curled ribbon, incorporating calligraphy, adding a little gift card to their favorite store or restaurant, drawing embellishments onto the letter or creating mini collages themed around their interests or hobbies. Decorating your letters adds the perfect mix of creativity and enjoyment that conveys intentionality in the gift.
- FILLING IT WITH SWEETNESS
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Now we get to the most important part of this tradition: filling the letter with the reasons why you’re thankful for the people in your life. What you want to say to your friends and family is definitely up to you, but here are some helpful prompts that’ll assist you in thinking of what you want to say:
- What is the nicest thing they have done for you?
- What is something about them that you admire?
- How do they inspire, encourage, or motivate you?
- What do you think they need to hear more often?
- What is your favorite thing to do with them?
- What is your favorite thing about them?
- What have you learned from them?
- How have they made your year or life better?
- What is something you do not thank them enough for?
Thanksgiving is a time where we get to focus on practicing gratitude in our lives by acknowledging the many blessings around us. This tradition of thankfulness letters presents the opportunity to let the people in your life know how much you love and appreciate them. I hope that this time of year is filled with peace, gratitude and warmth for you, your friends and your family.
