When I think of Thanksgiving, I always remember it as the happiest of days. It was the one holiday that was not about giving physical gifts – even Easter involved gifts from the Easter Bunny and relatives – but Thanksgiving was truly about the greatest gift of all: Gratitude!
Thanksgiving is celebrated every year in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. Inspired by the harvest feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in 1621 in what is now the state of Massachusetts to celebrate a successful harvest, it is now marked by having a traditional meal that consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and delicious pies for dessert.
Situated between the craziness of Halloween and the blazing glory of Christmas, Thanksgiving is a gracious slowing down for a moment and appreciating all that you have in life. Whether you are thanking a deity or your loved ones, gratitude is something that brings warmth and joy to people.
When I was little, I got very excited on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Any kid would be happy and grateful for that a short school week. My grandmother would start getting her ingredients ready for the pies she was going to bake, while my mom started peeling enormous piles of white and sweet potatoes. When I got home from school on Tuesday afternoon, a huge bowl sat on the dining room table filled with slices of white bread covered by paper towels – this was the key ingredient in the stuffing she was going to make.
By Wednesday after school, the house smelled of baking pies, cooking stuffing, and the turkey was in the fridge covered with a towel as it finished defrosting. This was an extremely hopeful time for me because I had no school to worry about and knew I would have delicious turkey sandwiches for lunch for the week when I went back to school on Monday
I stand back now looking into the room where I sat at the card table with my cousins and sister. Around the big table are my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and my parents. The room is filled with joy and laughter; platters of food are in the center of the table, and my dad is proudly carving that turkey and putting it on plates that are passed to him. Without saying it, everyone was filled with love and were giving thanks for another year together. Sadly, everyone one of those adults I loved are now gone, and only we cousins who sat at the kids' table remain.
Now, as an adult, the joy of Thanksgiving has shifted to a different perspective. I am grateful to be off from work and have loved ones to be with for the holiday. My children are old enough to have graduated from the kids' table. The food remains delicious and the meaning of the day has never changed – giving thanks and being grateful are the main themes for me.
Thanksgiving can be a religious day for some people, and for others it may be a day to be grateful for everything they have in life. That's what makes Thanksgiving so very special – it can be a holiday for everyone!
I am grateful for so many things in my life, and I am very grateful for those memories of Thanksgivings past. As a kid, I took for granted having all of the adults in my life who loved me. I didn't realize that they would all be gone one day Now I know better and never take for granted how lucky I am to have people I love who love me.
So, no matter where you are, think about being grateful this Thanksgiving. Tell friends and loved ones how thankful you are to have them in your lives. It is a day for gratitude, but we shouldn't limit it to one day a year. Be grateful every day, even for things that can be taken for granted like a beautiful sunset. You will be happier and have a new appreciation for all the good things in your life.
So, Happy Thanksgiving and embrace the idea that gratitude will bring you and others joy every day of the year!
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