Typical Thanksgiving -- there is a cranberry sauce stain on your shirt, your Aunt has had a little too much wine, and your casually stuffing olive appetizers into your mouth to dodge relative's questions. I never anticipated that I would have to completely know my life plan at these events -- well you do. Of course there is that obvious communication apprehension but it doesn't take away the value of spending the holidays surrounded by the love, comfort, and happiness your family brings. Family has so much to give, and it's nice to be surrounded by them.

At the same time though, you have a lot to give yourself. Why not give to others? Like I said, spending time with family is great but you've spent every Thanksgiving together. While it is a holiday to give thanks, especially with your family, there is so much else to give thanks for. So, change it up and do something different this year.

Spend this Thanksgiving giving back. Give to those who have not been given much to be thankful for. Whether it's volunteering in a soup kitchen or feeding meals to the homeless, these acts of kindness fill our hearts on the holidays. It is an amazing experience that has a surprising outcome. Often, we assume that in these contexts we will be helping others but that isn't necessarily true. In these experiences, it doesn't just help these people, it helps ourselves. That warm-hearted, tingly feeling is completely worth the difficult, exhausting work that comes with volunteering. If this hasn't convinced you, here is a personal experience of my own.

Taking a break from the hectic planning associated with the family's Thanksgiving, my mother, grandmother, and I chose to volunteer at the Salvation Army. We hoped to help those that are less fortunate and wanted to give them a Thanksgiving dinner that they were thankful for. For Thanksgiving Dinner, volunteers prepped, cooked, and served the food while also having the opportunity to talk with those we were serving. Personally, I was able to talk to several inspiring individuals that shared not only their hardships and stories, but also their extreme gratitude for that Thanksgiving dinner. It made my heart happy and slapped a smile on my face knowing that these people truly appreciated this and were more than thankful. While they assumed I had an impact on their life, they neglected to realize that they were impacting myself as well. Not only did I have a sense of self-fulfillment and newly found appreciation for my life, but I walked away with the strong desire to volunteer again.

Do something for yourself this Thanksgiving -- and by that I mean, do something for others this Thanksgiving. While you might miss out on your grandma's delicious pumpkin pie, your family will understand and there are other holidays to attend. Volunteering is a truly heart-warming experience where everyone walks away with a sense of happiness. Enjoy Thanksgiving this year by giving others a reason to be thankful.