Thanksgiving; it’s the holiday where our main focus has somehow become food. Children await the pumpkin or apple pies, college students anticipate the opportunity to finally be re-acquainted with non-dining hall food, and family members spend entire days preparing the Thanksgiving meal. Our tables are left brimming with traditional dishes such as turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, and our primary focus digresses to what we are eating. As a result, we tend to forget the real purpose behind the day—being thankful.
Often, we are too blinded by our turbulent lives to appreciate the little things in life. On Thanksgiving, out of all days, we should be grateful for what we have. This can range from the smallest little things that seem irrelevant at first to major factors in our lives. By sharing the small things I am grateful for, I hope you too can find three small things to appreciate. While reading this, I challenge you to create a list yourself, and you may be pleasantly surprised by how many positive things you have in your life.
Let’s start out with the basics: my morning. I am an avid coffee drinker, and although you may not be, think about what you look forward to in the morning. Is it a cup of tea, some sunny-side-up eggs, or just the feeling of lying in your cozy bed? My cup of coffee in the morning is one tiny thing, yet it helps me get a head start on my work, feel energized, and be productive. This may seem like “romanticizing” my morning coffee brew. However, that’s what this is all about—finding the small things in our lives that we can be grateful for, no matter how minuscule they seem at first glance.
Another small thing I am grateful for is the feeling of finishing a new book. There is nothing better than eagerly waiting to read the last few words of a book, already knowing it has secured its place onto your list of favorites. For me, the feeling of being utterly content with a book is something to be grateful for. While I may not remember the detailed plot, I will always remember how the book made me feel. There are other similar things that spark this feeling as well; these include finishing an amazing movie, show, or even listening to a song you love. These simple acts can have effects we never fathomed before, like changing how we answer the classic icebreaker question that asks what your favorite movie, song, or show is. With just a few episodes, words, lyrics, or scenes, small imprints are made in our lives. We should acknowledge these new changes, and be thankful for the opportunity to create them.
One thing I think most can relate to and be thankful for is a hot shower. After a long day in class or work, we crave to feel the comfort of a hot shower. This small, daily action is something to appreciate, for it immediately works its magic. The coziness and warmth we feel when we step into the steaming water is a small, yet prominent part of our lives. I know I look forward to my hot shower after a cold, long day in class. Even if you do not look forward to this as much as I do, think about what makes you feel cozy, whether that be a sweatshirt, a blanket, or a place. All of these tiny aspects of our days are looked over, for they seem like small moments in our chaotic lives. However, they are all still moments to appreciate.
May these three ideas spark you to appreciate small things in your life. So, as you enjoy your Thanksgiving meal, think about all the different features of your life that are overlooked just because they seem small in the long-run. While there is always room for seconds on Thanksgiving, there is also always room for some gratitude.