When I was younger, I used to think Thanksgiving was a boring holiday. Those radio stations that started playing Christmas music on November 1 teased you into thinking it was actually two weeks before Christmas. It was the holiday where you received no presents, struggled to talk to your relatives about your awkward middle school life and ate (what I thought at the time) subpar food. This is what Thanksgiving was like for me when I was a child. Getting served a plate full of turkey, mash potatoes and stuffing was not my forte at this young and naïve age. What I really wanted was to be ripping open wrapping paper and receiving the brand new iPod touch, but no, I had to settle for eating food.

Looking back at what I used to think of Thanksgiving, I laugh. Today, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for two reasons: food and blessings. I’m not afraid to admit my love for food. I love everything about Thanksgiving food. In the eyes of a college student, Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays of the year. After cooking your own food or eating dorm food for months, you finally get a hot, home-cooked meal and unlimited amounts of it. No one judges you for how much you eat. You are allowed to have the ultimate food baby, and don’t have to feel the slightest bit ashamed. You are allowed to take the greatest post-meal nap of your life. In my eyes, there isn’t a better day than one like this.

In addition to the food and more importantly, Thanksgiving is a time you are able to take a step back from reality and put your life into perspective. You are able to count your blessings and realize what you’re thankful for. Given all the events over the past year and especially this month, Thanksgiving will be a much needed reflection time for Americans.

People can easily get swept up in today’s political, social and economic issues; they forget about the simple and meaningful things in life. I can attest. With social media being a tap or click away, we are constantly immersed not just in our lives, but everyone else’s. We read, listen, watch or hear opinions that have the ability to either make us rejoice or revolt. I comply with everyone having the freedom of speech, but think about the time of year and what this holiday embodies.

When was the last time you were thankful for being able to see the light of day? Or feel the rays from the sun beat down on your face? Or breathe in a deep breath of fresh air? During this painful and confusing time, I’m hoping people can begin to realize these tiny, yet extremely wonderful gifts we are given each day. These gifts aren’t like the iPod Touch I was hoping so badly to get ten years ago. They are so much more. If people can see past all the hurt and open their eyes to the tiny blessings that embody their lives, maybe we will be able to work towards coming together as a nation. This isn’t going to happen in the blink of an eye, but we can start a movement.

This Thanksgiving, prior to indulging in your delicious turkey and gravy, take a minute. In your head or with your family, list off everything you are thankful for. Post on Facebook and tell all your friends what you’re truly thankful for in your life and encourage them to do the same. Rather than adding fuel to the fire, let’s attempt to douse it by reminding people why we were put on this Earth. It takes one person to start the domino effect. During this Thanksgiving season, be that person.