Our society feeds us the idea that it is a "me" world, and that everything should be done because we deserve it, and because we can have it. This applies to clothing, food, luxury items, you name it, and it is part of our consumerist society. We consume and consume, but do we take the time to appreciate the things we already have? Even more so, do we appreciate the things we cannot buy?
Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away, and though the thought of heaps of stuffing and cornbread dance through our heads, we should embrace this holiday in a new way, truly appreciating everything and everyone that we have in our lives. I myself have traditionally rattled off that I am thankful for my family, but it wasn’t until this year that I was actually aware of how important they are to me. This year marks the first year that we (my mother, father, brother and I) are going to be celebrating the holiday in Florida with my mother’s cousins. For as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving was held at our house in Connecticut, but since relatives are passing on, so too are our old traditions. This makes me incredibly thankful that I have my mother, father and brother to lean on in this time of transition. Since we are so close, I now know that we will enjoy holidays no matter where we are, and for that, I am truly aware of how blessed I am.
As a student who attends Union College, I am also very thankful for my education, and the opportunities it will afford me after I graduate in the spring. Many people in the nation and in the world are not as fortunate as I am, and will not be considered for the same things that I will, just on account of being able to get a high-quality education. I am thankful for the professors who, in the moment may aggravate me, but end up pushing me to produce some of my best work. I am thankful for my peers who don’t agree with me, and force me to see things with a different mindset, challenging my own beliefs.
I urge everyone to reflect on their own lives and find things they are thankful for that cannot be labeled with a price tag, and that go beyond the cliché response of, "I’m thankful for everything." Certainly, we are all thankful for the food on our tables and the roofs over our heads, but there is so much more as well that may go unrecognized. Rather than waiting until New Year's Eve to make a change in the way we perceive and value certain aspects of our lives, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to eat wonderful food and make these reflections. In between mouthfuls of mashed potatoes, think about everyone that has made sacrifices in order to help you achieve, and how much you should appreciate them, especially your parents. Writing this makes me want to hug mine until my arms fall off; they have done so much for me, and it often goes under-appreciated. This Thursday, remember what to really be thankful for as you gather around the table for Thanksgiving.
