When I was in kindergarten, I made a placemat for my spot at the Thanksgiving Dinner Table (yes, this deserves capitalization). With a blue piece of construction paper, I made a turkey using the stamp of my handprint and was told to include something that I was thankful for. I said that I was thankful for my family, obviously making sure to include a stick-figure drawing of my family, which at the time included both of my parents and one younger sister. As I’ve grown older, the lamination of the placemat has deteriorated, the blue color of the paper fading to an almost gray. My family has grown to include yet another sassy younger sister, I have formed and broken many relationships, I have experienced loss in many forms, and I have learned and learned… and learned. Though it seems that from day-to-day I barely have time to breathe, let alone talk to all of the people that I should on a daily basis (sorry Mom), I realize that it is always important to show what you are thankful for. Lucky for us, there is a whole holiday dedicated to doing this, though most of us overlook it due to homemade pumpkin pie or an excuse to take a break from schoolwork. However, there is a significant meaning for the ‘thanks’ in Thanksgiving.
Growing up, it was a common occurrence to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving as a family when it aired on ABC. Each year, I asked the same question: aren’t jelly beans meant to be eaten on Easter? Though my dad tried to explain that the point of the movie was to exemplify that Thanksgiving isn’t about the food you eat, but about the people you eat it with, my focus remained on the jelly beans (I was probably hungry at the time).
At nineteen years old, though it took me a long time, I have figured out and actually believe in what Thanksgiving is all about. Yes, I could eat stuffing and sweet potatoes for days (literally), but I truly believe in an emphasis on the thanks that goes along with the food. It is easy to think of all of the things that you don’t have, but this Thanksgiving, try thinking and reflecting on all of the things that you do have. It is important to look around on Thanksgiving day and notice what’s around you: the people you are with, the home which you are in, the ability to live the life you have, the memories that you have made, even the lessons you have learned. I have been taught the hard way that nothing in life is guaranteed, and because of this, you need to live each day to its fullest. People, including you, need to be appreciated and loved always. I am thankful for all of the people in my life, from the family and friends that I will be spending the holiday with to those I cannot.
Though what you are thankful for doesn’t need to be said verbally, this doesn’t mean that people won’t know how you feel. Whether it’s a bear hug, an ‘I love you’ or ‘don’t forget your jacket’ or giving your younger sister the last slice of apple pie, it should not be challenging to express what you are thankful for. So this Thanksgiving, try to eat all of the stuffing you can with an extra heaping of thanks. And most importantly, don’t forget to be thankful for one of the most important things of all: yourself.