Yes, it is true. I guess you could say I am the Grinch of Thanksgiving, but for valid reasons (C’mon, when was the last time you watched a good Thanksgiving movie). I don’t despise it because it's the holiday where high school relationships cease to exist after 11 weeks of separation. And no, it’s not because of family feuds or even the excessive amount of football on television.

In my eyes Thanksgiving is another example of our society failing to recognize priorities.

Allow me to explain.

I don't deny that Thanksgiving holds obvious tradition, but even this is being replaced with expectations. From having the best turkey, to wearing the perfect fall outfit, to the Snapchats of every course, to the superficial smiles and "yes college is just great," it seems that the holiday that has been celebrated for hundreds of years has lost whatever authenticity it began with, and thus has become more superficial than ever. Once again we have fallen prey to modern day norms, without really stopping to think why the hell these are "norms" to begin with. In the process, "thanks" and "giving" are lost.

And aren't you just the slightest bit embarrassed that there has to be a scheduled day of the year to get together with your family? Life gets in the way, but wouldn’t you too rather be shown how much someone appreciates you, rather than just being told? We live in this society where work is so prioritized that the years of genuine connection and moments are flying by, often unnoticed.

When I visualize this, I imagine hundreds of people sitting outwards in a circle. They are all glued to their computer screens (and not the Apple laptops of today, I'm talking about the old, rather boxy Windows desktops). Their furious typing muffles everyone else’s sound, and too soon they will no longer be able to hear anything over their own noise. They can't stop typing. They won't stop (cue Miley Cyrus 2013). Quite suddenly Google Calendar reminds them other human beings exist, and then at once they all cautiously motion to one another. Sure, throughout the year your computer crashes every once in a while. When that happens you’re forced to again turn inward, just to find that your family and friends also received the same notification. These are the moments when you're reunited for grandma's funeral or a wedding.

Thanksgiving allows us to express our gratitude for the life we live. Unfortunately, this is just for one day. It's a sad reality that once Black Friday arrives the love, kindness and unity experienced the day before greatly diminishes. Once the holiday season is over, families are separated until that unexpected notification pops up. But, if we each individually were to embody the values of Thanksgiving on a daily basis, not only would we be more appreciative of our loved ones, but also live happier and fuller lives.

I am not thankful for Thanksgiving, however I am thankful for my family and friends, something I hope they know everyday of the year.