A few weeks ago I was complaining that Halloween wasn’t even over and stores were decorating for Christmas, and some were even putting out their Christmas merchandise. Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year. Just a few years ago stores were closed on Thanksgiving Day, then they started opening at midnight for Black Friday and this year shops in my area are opening at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening. Thanksgiving is becoming a pre-game to Christmas shopping. The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me, and then I starting thinking about what Thanksgiving meant to me.
At first I thought about why I was looking forward to Thanksgiving. I was going to go home and not have to deal with classes for five days; I was going to get a big, yummy meal; and I was going to spend time with family. After thinking about this, I realized that I was no better than the stores that were putting out Christmas merchandise before Halloween was over. I was looking forward to the things that Thanksgiving was offering me, yet I had forgotten about the meaning behind the holiday.
Thanksgiving is the day to count our blessings. On Thanksgiving, we take the time to put aside our busy lives — work, school, shopping, etc. — to contemplate and express our gratitude for the people and things in our lives that have added meaning and delight. I was buying into the commercialization of Thanksgiving and only looking at what Thanksgiving was affording me: days off from school, a big home-cooked meal, and a nice long nap before I woke up at midnight to start my Black Friday excursion. Shame on me!
Thanksgiving should not be lost in the holiday shuffle. It is important for all of us to have a time of reflection and realize all of the things in our lives that have added meaning. There are so many things we have to be thankful for: family, friends, hobbies, experiences — we can even be thankful for our hardships, if we have grown from them and they have taught us to be stronger, more compassionate, or smarter. Thanksgiving is important.
Thanksgiving is important and I was starting to forget that. I felt sad, and then I felt compelled to think about all the things in my life that I am thankful for: family, boyfriend, friends, home, and sorority. I challenged myself to write out all of the things that I am grateful for and to add to that list every day until Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is important whether you celebrate it as a holiday or a moment each day, everyone should take some time to reflect upon his or her blessings. What ever your beliefs or religion —
giving thanks to God, or to the people in your lives — it is important take the time to do so. So I challenge you to make a list — in your head or on paper — and to not let Thanksgiving get lost in your holiday shuffle.
