It’s that time of year again, Thanksgiving! The day we take to spend time with family and friends and reflect on what we’re thankful for and all we have accomplished. Unfortunately, this year is going to look a little different. Families may not be able to gather as they usually do and we may not have as much to reflect on. But it is on us to recreate the Thanksgiving experiences to the best of our abilities so it can be enjoyable for everyone.
One way to normalize Thanksgiving this year is the use of technology. Even though family gatherings may not be as large or exciting as they have been in the past, they can be just as fun virtually. A zoom themed Thanksgiving dinner can be the new normal! Modern day technology is a great way to bring people together during this crazy time. Also, it may be fun to go around the virtual table talking about things everyone is thankful for. This can bring some sense of normalcy to an extremely strange situation.
Another fun activity families can practice is sharing recipes! While eating on zoom it could be enjoyable to share what each family member made for the occasion, taking notes for what to make and share in the future when it is safe to all be together. Having some new recipes to try can also bring a sense of togetherness between family members who are apart.
Even though it may seem like we don’t have much to be thankful for this year, we have so much to be proud of. We are living through a pandemic, one to the extent that no one has ever experienced before. On Thanksgiving we can reflect on our resilience, perseverance, determination, and motivation to push ourselves through the hardest of times. We can be thankful for the family members and friends who have helped us to get to the point we are at today and offer our own support and love in return.
Thanksgiving this year is about so much more than being thankful. It is about appreciating all of the hardships and battles we have faced to get us through times like these. It’s about health. It’s about family. It’s about friendship. It’s about education. It’s about any possible thing you can dream of. Eat some turkey and have a good conversation this year! We deserve to enjoy ourselves and reflect on how accomplished and amazing we are.
