Is it just me, or does it seem like Thanksgiving hasn't been as big of a deal this year? So many people have skipped Thanksgiving and gone straight to Black Friday shopping and preparing for Christmas. Maybe it's because I've been away for school and it's harder to get into the holiday spirit when you're not with family and a living in a house that's decorated and ready for Thanksgiving. Either way, I've been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving lately and here are my thoughts.

Thanksgiving is more than just another day. Yes, it's traditionally a holiday traced back to Plymouth where the Pilgrims and Puritans celebrated the blessing they found in a good harvest back in 1621. And yes, we always celebrate our blessings in light of this on the fourth Thursday of November. But Thanksgiving is still more than just a day. Hear me out here. Thanksgiving should be a daily mindset. It should be a lifestyle.

We are far too entitled sometimes. We take for granted the blessings we have as Americans and as free people. As Christians, we take for granted the promises God has given us and we abuse grace. We go through our day without any thought as to how hard people work to make that food that we ordered, how many long hours they've worked in our favorite clothing store that day, or how many irritable people they're dealt with in their office already. We get caught up in the moment and forget to pay attention to the details. We forget to be thankful for it all.

Thanksgiving should be on the front of our minds daily. We should look for things to be thankful for, though we don't have to look very hard. I just heard the other day about a friend that listed out one thing she was thankful for each day for a year! The first month or so was easy, but after that, it takes a little more thinking. It really makes you dig a little deeper and appreciate stuff that you may not have thought twice about previously. I challenge you to see how many things you can list out that you are thankful for. You may just be surprised by how much you can list! Instead of focusing on all the things that seem to be going wrong in your life, the stress you're facing today, or the long list of tasks you have to complete, count your blessings. It'll change your whole day and give you a better perspective on life.

Bottom line, be in a grateful and thankful spirit daily. Never take for granted the blessings you've been given. Tell your family and friends how thankful you are for them today, on Thanksgiving day, and every day. Let's vow to live a life of gratitude and see how it changes us.