What does it mean to celebrate Thanksgiving in this day and age? The historic day of Thanksgiving itself is rather morbid. When you think about it, we celebrate the days of committed mass genocide when colonists took the lives and lands of many Native Americans.
For a while, I couldn't find any reason for why such a holiday would be celebrated—and on a national level at that. Abraham Lincoln, in the midst of the Civil War in 1863, called for Thanksgiving to be deemed an annual holiday to be celebrated.
As I sat down at the Thanksgiving table this year, I had a few things on my mind. Firstly, since I wasn't spending this Thanksgiving with a lot of extended family, I was thinking of how different it would be to skip out on most of the family drama and gossip this year. Secondly, I was expecting to eat myself into a food coma (both of which I can confirm were successes).
Everything was as expected as I first sat down at the table surrounded by friends and family alike. The food covered the entirety of the tablecloth on the table and served as a decoration of sorts. Aligned atop the corners were four bottles of white wine. The food was delicious and each course complimented the previous.
The abundance of food was overwhelming and as soon as the plates were emptied, more food would stock up the plate before you could deny the offer. It wasn't until the middle of dinner however when the point of Thanksgiving hit me.
In the middle of the dinner, all conversations came to a halt and everyone began going around the table to say what they were thankful for. I dreaded my turn, as I listened to everyone, in turn, say their thanks. It was somewhere in this line of thanks where I had an epiphany. The point of Thanksgiving is to give thanks and show appreciation for all those that are important to you.
The anecdotes expressed around the table moved many to a state of crying and uncontrollable laughter—most likely a result of the wine—but also served to show me the importance of spending time with those that are important in your life and mean a lot to you.
Far too often, we tend to not express appreciation or gratitude until it's far too late and Thanksgiving provides us with a day to let others know just how much they mean.
But that does not mean that Thanksgiving day is the only time for us to display love and appreciation for those people. Every day is an opportunity for us to display the importance of others in our everyday lives. Thanksgiving just works as a reminder to express. It does not stop there.
Love everyday. Remind others just how thankful you are for them. Express gratitude and appreciation regularly. There are 365 days in a year and more than one should be dedicated for showing thanks. For each and every person in my life, I am thankful for your presence and love. I am thankful to be surrounded with your comfort and safety. I am thankful for you.
