So last week I wrote about Christmas, and I realized I jumped the gun a tad. Thanksgiving is important too.

Thanksgiving is especially important to those of us who are trying to survive this semester one week at a time, because for a few days we can just stop and enjoy our existence.

I think the idea of pausing every year and remembering what we are thankful for is a good practice. We should probably do it more often.

I hope all of you get to spend this holiday with family or friends or people you care about. Even if you don't, I hope you get to relax and enjoy a little time off. I am thankful for a great many things (I won't bore you with the list) and I'm sure everyone can find something to be thankful for (besides school being cancelled).

I hope all of you will take advantage of this holiday and tell the people you love that you are thankful for them, even if you can't be with them. Everyday, people are getting harassed or embarrassed in the name of a man who was elected to be our leader. Be thankful that you or your family haven't had to experience that. Or if you have, be thankful that there are other people in this world who are NOT hateful and ignorant, and who care about you a great deal. Because there are. They are out there. And that gives me hope.

Let's take this time to relax and enjoy our holiday, especially after such a stressful election season has happened. Let's be thankful that our country is not a dictatorship, and that we have a role to play in its governing. Let's be thankful that life is what we make of it, here in America, and we have the opportunity to make it good and help others to do the same.