Thanksgiving, a holiday centered on the core four F's that most everyone appreciates: Family, friends, football, and of course food. Thanksgiving is the one day a year that lifts the spirits and expands the waistlines of people everywhere; while truly reflecting on the aspects of life for which we are grateful. From the very beginning, this holiday has been a day of Family 'togetherness'. I'm going to give you the ten stages of Thanksgiving Day, from the moment you wake up, to the moment you have to unbutton your pants at the dinner table.

1. Wake up early and try to recover from your Thanksgiving Eve festivities.

Let's admit one of the best parts of Thanksgiving is the events that occur the night before. Thanksgiving Eve for young adults is equivalent to the excitement Christmas Eve is for children. Reuniting with all of your friends from home, ignoring the fact that we'll most likely need to participate in adult-like conversations with our entire families the next day, and indulge in activities we know we won't be able to get away with when we're out of our young adult phase of life.

2. Smell the turkey cooking throughout your entire house.

Ahh, one of the best parts of Thanksgiving morning is going downstairs to the aroma of the turkey basting in the oven. While you go down to make the coffee that will revive your soul from the night before, you take a second and just take in the scents of the meal you're going to devour in just a few hours.

3. Watch the Thanksgiving Parade.

One of my favorite traditions of Thanksgiving day is to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in my cozy living room. As you're sipping your coffee and sinking into your couch in your favorite pajamas, you watch the floats go by one-by-one. From the famous Peanut's characters to whichever top 20 pop artist they choose to put on a float, the production of it all never seems to get old.

4. Quality Family Time.

The most cherished time of Thanksgiving is being able to be surrounded by loved ones you don't always get to see. As you make your rounds of catching up with everyone you'll most likely hear familiar questions such as: "How's school? Do you have a career yet? Whose the guy you just posted a picture with? Is it serious? So you're definitely dating, right? No boyfriend yet? Did you fall and skid your knee's to make those jeans?" As you struggle through the series of questions, you realize just how thankful you are for the existence of wine. Yet, I would never want to take back the third-degree questions, the endless laughs, advice, hugs, and memories that are all included with spending time with my family.

5. Apps and Football.

Round one of the endless eating begins with the appetizers. As you fill up on an assortment of cheese & crackers, veggies, dips, and anything else you can imagine, the football game is playing loud and clear for the whole house to hear. Cousins play some flag football outside, the uncles sip their beers and yell at the TV from the couch, and the multitasking abilities are heightened as we all have twelve separate conversations in one very loud room.

6. Forever at the Kid's Table.

The kid's table has been a key tradition of Thanksgiving day for me my entire life. Even as a junior in college, I already know I'll be placed at the kid's table, and frankly loving every second of it. Since none of my cousins are really "kids" anymore (the youngest being 18 years old), the kid's table has become more of a hangout for me and my cousins to catch up, laugh, and make new memories.

7. Turkey Time Baby.

The moment we wait for all day has finally come to reality when the turkey is placed on the perfectly set dining room table. You dive into the mass amount of food that's placed on the table--might I add without pacing yourself--because well it's just THAT good. You become full way quicker than you thought, but this ain't your first rodeo, so you unbutton your pants and get your game face on for the next course.

8. Dessert Time, maybe?

Just when you think you couldn't possibly eat another thing, the desserts come out, and all sense of fullness is gone. A moment of silence is given for the loss of self-control as you take a large forkful into your slice of pumpkin pie. No regrets were made, and your taste buds are thanking you, however, your jeans are not.

9. Food-Induced Coma.

Eyes rolling in the back of your heads, stomachs protruded for all to see, and the hazy state of turkey filled dreams are all to follow your Thanksgiving meal. The thought of ever moving from your current position seems utterly impossible, so you lay there until it is absolutely necessary to move.

10. Thankful to say the least.

As you're reflecting on the day, while most likely still in your food-induced coma, you realize just how thankful you are for the blessings in your life. Looking around the room and realizing that you are surrounded by loved ones, with a roof over your head, and a belly full of food is much more than a lot of people can say that they have. Being able to share Thanksgiving with my family, and make memories for years to come is something to never take for granted, and be eternally grateful for.

The year 2017 has been nothing short of disastrous for many people around the world. So often we only worry about ourselves, and materialistic aspects of our lives, while ignoring the blessings that are right in front of us. Thanksgiving is a day to realize the important things in life. Love and cherish those around you. Kindness spreads, just as gratuity does.