I’m sure the majority of my peers, much like myself, are eagerly awaiting Thanksgiving break to go home for several different reasons. I personally can’t wait to go home to spend time with my family. The more time I spend away from them, the more I realize there is little that makes me happier than their company alone. In some ways, I believe the holidays have become almost commercialized instead of being a season representing gratitude. It’s turned into a guessing game of what presents are hidden under the wrapping. It’s focused on what sort of gifts you get instead of being thankful for what you already have.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, plenty of my favorite traditions are around the corner. Eating stuffing early in the morning while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, driving around town to see decorated houses and my personal favorite — going to sleep in my new festive pajamas with the TV set to the fake fireplace my local news channel plays (seeing as it’s normally 80 degrees during winter, and real fireplaces are unnecessary). I’m afraid that there are people forgetting the true meaning of celebration — Thanksgiving has turned into a hasty event, overshadowed by Black Friday shopping, and it seems like holidays have turned into waking up and wondering if the iPhone 6 is under the tree. Sometimes, we all need a reminder that what we celebrate shouldn’t be material things but the meaning behind the days.
Keeping that in mind, I highly encourage you to do something out of your traditional routines in these next couple months. Try to volunteer somewhere if you have the chance. I honestly believe that no matter how small a deed may be, if it positively impacts somebody in some way, it’s made a difference. Remind those that surround you how much they mean to you — whether it’s your friends, family, teachers, co-workers or all of the above. Taking a moment to remind others how much you appreciate them is sometimes exactly what they need to hear, whether it’s unbeknownst to you or not. Take time to disconnect from your electronics, and spend time with those you care about. Have a game night, drink hot chocolate and watch Elf on repeat. Whatever it is you enjoy, just do it with people you love and are thankful for. Twenty years from now, you’ll remember the memories you made living in the moment, not ones you made through your phone screen. Make them count, collegiettes. Happy holidays!