It's now the Monday after Thanksgiving. You've hopefully recovered from your turkey coma, family members have gone home, you may or may not have started running low on leftovers (depending on if your mom cooks for an army like mine or not), and you've returned to work or school. Reality has started setting back in, but with the beauty that is Christmas looming in the distance.
In the time of to-do lists, to-buy lists, and wish lists, try to remember what Thanksgiving was about, too. Yes, we have an entire day devoted to giving thanks for what we already have, but as soon as the first serving of turkey is gone, we tend to forget these things and only remember the things that we have to buy when shopping the next day. I'm not sure how we lost sight of what's really important here, especially when less than 24 hours after giving thanks, we're rushing out to buy plenty of new stuff.
So instead of heading out and getting into the Black Friday madness, I take the day after Thanksgiving to continue giving thanks for the things that I already have. Netflix, for "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life" coming out, plenty of leftovers to keep me in a continuous turkey coma lasting throughout the weekend, a brother who will tolerate my "Gilmore Girls" addiction and even watch it with me without too much complaining, a sister who walks through periodically to roll her eyes at me but will still bring me a Pepsi on her way back through, Christmas on the horizon evidenced by the tree standing proudly in the corner waiting to be decorated, and parents who put up with all this chaos that is our family.
I highly recommend that everyone do the same thing. Be thankful that you have a place to return to, whether it is work or school, even if Monday morning came way too quickly. Be thankful that you, your family, your friends, and your co-workers returned safely from travels. There is plenty to still be thankful for if you look around, even if you have already run out of leftover turkey.
Try to remember that as we head into this crazy, hectic holiday season. Take time to be thankful for everything you already have before you open presents, like the family gathered around the table singing, even if they are horribly off key. Be thankful for the time you are able to spend with them. So, when you ask me what I want for Christmas, dear grandparents, please respect my decision to tell you that I will tell you when I get to be thankful that finals are over and I can breathe again.
