Last week I overheard someone talking about they didn’t like Thanksgiving, and I began to question their sanity. I’ll admit that Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday, but I believe that it is an underrated one. Thanksgiving is at the perfect time because you get the best of both worlds with the end of fall (the leaves are barely hanging on but still gorgeous) and the best holiday is coming up — Christmas! It’s not cold enough for your heavy parka, but fall clothes are still acceptable. Also, since I don’t believe in Christmas music before Thanksgiving, I know I only have to wait a mere day to get my Christmas spirit on after the Thanksgiving festivities are over.
Food is the main event during this holiday, so I don’t understand how someone could choose not to love a whole day dedicated to eating endless amounts of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. The food baby is inevitable (in my case, food twins), but embrace it because you’ll be waiting another 364 days to stuff your face in the name of the holiday spirit. Get excited to eat copious amounts of festive foods and maybe even indulge your aunt by eating her interesting casserole that she’s always been getting you to try.
Another important part of this underrated holiday is that it is also centered around family and friends. Take time to appreciate your loved ones and squeeze them a little extra on Thanksgiving. If your like me, you may only get to see some of these extended family members a few times a year, so make the most of your limited time together. I love Thanksgiving because I’m able to hang out with my cousins that I only get to see a few times a year.
Lastly, Thanksgiving is an awesome holiday because it reminds us to be thankful for all things in life, big and small. While you should be thankful for these things everyday, it’s nice to have a holiday that focuses us on the importance of gratitude. Thanksgiving is a great time to give back and help out in your community. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen or organize a food drive to help others have a nice Thanksgiving too.
