All year, people around the world look forward to the holiday season. By August, people have already finished their Christmas list. Before the summer is even over, stores are stocking up Halloween decorations. Some people even put up their Christmas lights before it is Thanksgiving. What is it about the holiday season that makes people go crazy? Is it the peppermint hot chocolate? Christmas radio stations? The snow? Spreading good cheer for all to hear? It’s most likely a combination of all of those things and others. Don’t get me wrong, I love the holidays. I love making Christmas lists and lighting the menorah eight nights of December. I love the sound of the bells as people in red stand outside supermarkets raising money for the Army.
But while we were putting up our Christmas lights and drinking hot chocolate, we forgot to take it all in. We totally celebrated Thanksgiving eating turkey and stuffing. But if you really think about it, we tend to over look that holiday. Let’s be real, we associate Thanksgiving with the beginning of Christmas time.
Christmas music comes to life the day after Thanksgiving, and black Friday sales start the same night as Thanksgiving. We rush through Thanksgiving as if it is just a regular day filled with a little more food, but associating the two holidays together isn’t doing any good for our society.
Thanksgiving has been a tradition in America since the 1600's. Different communities often have Thanksgiving food drives to provide food for the poor. People say thanks and reflect on the blessings in their life. It is a beautiful holiday that you shouldn’t just drop right after it ends. Focus on Christmas and the holidays, yes. But don’t forget to count your blessings every day.
Thank your parents more than one day a year. Thank your friends more than one day a year. Thank your significant other for more than one day a year. Be thankful today and every day.
Not only that, but life moves really fast. I feel like just yesterday I was celebrating the holidays last year. If we don’t take it day by day and rush through the holiday season, we’ll miss it all. Take your time celebrating Thanksgiving instead of brushing it aside to jump right into Christmas or whatever religious holiday you celebrate during December. Take it slow, otherwise you will miss this time spent with your family when you're older.
