What is the first word that comes to mind when I say, "Thanksgiving?"

If it was '"ood," well....same.

However, most people will say that word, and that's all that they think of. I get that the food probably takes the cake for the best part of this holiday, but there's so much more to appreciate. I always see people on social media go straight from Halloween to Christmas. I'm all for being excited about those things, but you can't completely rule out Thanksgiving! So, sit back, relax, and pay attention.

Here are 10 reasons we should stop forgetting Thanksgiving.

1. The True Meaning

This one is probably the most obvious. We learn what Thanksgiving means back in first grade, but if you're like me, you can't even remember how to do math equations from sophomore year of high school. After reading this, you can check 'history' off of the lessons to learn for the day. Thanksgiving always takes place on the fourth Thursday in November.

This is because of a feast between Pilgrims and a Native American Tribe that happened in 1621. The pilgrims came to the land, and no crops would grow. The Native American tribe taught them how to harvest, fish, and successfully grow crops. When it finally came time to harvest their freshly grown crops, they wanted to celebrate.

This was not technically known as Thanksgiving until 1623. Not many people remember this as the holiday passes by, so I thought I would throw a few facts in there to refresh the memory. Remember to be thankful for the food you have in front of you, not everyone is lucky enough to have that.

2. The Vibes

Honestly, I love the vibes that Thanksgiving brings. It's still fall, the colors outside are beautiful, the weather is still okay, and you get to see your family. It's not as intense of a vibe as Christmas, and you can actually concentrate on being with your family in comparison to scrambling to find them gifts.

3. The Shopping

It's like Christmas morning...but with your own money! Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. I don't know about you, but waking up insanely early to adventure out with friends and get cool stuff is always something I look forward to. I'm definitely not one of those people out at one in the morning and punching people to get the last TV, but I do wake up before the sun rises. (And I don't punch people, just in case I had to clarify.)

4. The Parades

From the Macy's parade to small-town celebrations, Thanksgiving parades are so fun to watch. My personal favorite is, of course, the Macy's parade. From a little girl, I always sat in my pajamas snuggled under the covers and watched the parade while my mom started on the Thanksgiving cooking. To this day, you can find me on my couch with my family, coffee in hand, pointing out my favorite celebrities. It's the perfect time to make memories and judge celebrity outfit choices.

5. Christmas Talk

Thanksgiving is always where you will hear your family start to talk about Christmas. The adults will discuss the food, party list, and weather while the kids drool over toy catalogs. It gets everyone excited for the holidays to come, and that's such a great feeling.

6. The Food

I mean yes, obviously this was still going to make it onto the list. I LOVE Thanksgiving food. I could write you a whole novel about how much I love it, and then a powerpoint on why you should too. There is SO much food on Thanksgiving that you wind up having leftovers for the next three weeks.

And that's not even a bad thing! It's also cool to see the stereotypical 'plate picture' that everyone posts on their social media because you get to see what other people eat. There are so many possible foods that can be served on Thanksgiving, some even that their relatives come up with. It's neat that people throw their own ideas in to make foods that everyone loves.

You can surely find me swimming down a lake of mashed potatoes in my gravy boat for the next few weeks. Diet, who?

7. Love In The Air

This could definitely fit under vibes, but I wanted to give it it's own special place. The amount of love that I feel on Thanksgiving is crazy. No, I'm not just referring to relationships with a partner. Friends, family, and even strangers come together to be thankful. Lovers get to dress up together and join families. Strangers are welcomed into other people's homes.

Even those without homes are given food and taken care of. You always find yourself surrounded by home-cooked dishes laughing ridiculously with the family members around you. You can literally feel the atmosphere lighten up. If you can tell me that you read that and didn't think about your family and smile, you're lying. Even I got lost in my thoughts and returned with a smile!

8. It's A Nice Break

As for most holidays, Thanksgiving gives you a break from reality to celebrate with food and good company. Most people have a few days off of work, and everyone is home from school. Although cooking or holding Thanksgiving festivities might be stressful, seeing everyone's big smiles around you is relieving.

9. Football Games

What is Thanksgiving without a little football? From your local schools to the NFL, you can always hear talk of the big 'Thanksgiving game'. At the high school I graduated from, the Thanksgiving game was the biggest of the year. Families gather with their blankets and hot chocolates and fill up the bleachers quickly. It's an event that people countdown for, and it always winds up being super fun and super hype. You can go to any school and watch a game. Even if you're not that into football, you will most certainly have fun at a big game like this.

10. A Time To Be Thankful

Last, and definitely most important, Thanksgiving is the time to give thanks for everything in your life. Sometimes, life is hard, or isn't fair. However, we should all be thankful for what we do have. I love seeing families that go around the dinner table and say a few things they are thankful for. Whether it be your favorite sweater or an important person, there is always something you can be super appreciative of.

And there you have it. Some reasons why we should not keep overlooking Thanksgiving. I hope that all who celebrate it have a wonderful one. Remember to laugh with your family and have a blast. I also hope you all take the time to pick out at least one thing you're incredibly thankful for!