Two weeks ago I thought, “Thanksgiving can’t come any sooner.” Last week, however, I was never surer of that statement in my life when I woke up feeling like Death was beating me with a bat. Thanksgiving is an underrated holiday -- that is a fact --but I’ve been taking it for granted the past 20 years. It’s not a transition between Halloween and Christmas: It’s a time to look back on your year and who has helped you get to where you are today.
On Thursday, I won’t just stuff my face with food and then slip into a food coma. I will hug each of my parents, even if that’s more affection than I usually show them, and let them know that I love them and I’m thankful for them. As I get older I realize my need to pick fights with them diminishes, and because of that our relationship has improved greatly. This year they don’t pick up the phone asking what I want or need, but they are prepared to hear about my day or good news I want to share. I also score brownie points when I’m nice to them because my brother is currently going through the “I’m in college I do what I want” phase that all freshmen go through.
Normally, Thanksgiving consists of me hibernating and eating my food in 15 minutes so that I can go back to sleep and avoid elongated conversation with my parents and relatives. This break, I will not yell at my parents for hugging me goodbye before they go to work, and I will spend time with them. I’m excited to see my friends, but instead of eating at the same Mexican restaurant with them three times over break I can spend a few meals with my parents.
Because Thanksgiving is a break from college, I will not be stressing about school or final grades. I will do work, but I won’t be in the library for six hours using all my dining dollars on coffee. I can make sure I get a head start on organizing my notes and flashcards for finals so that I won’t have to cram. This is always a lofty goal, and if I don’t get to it, then I won’t get mad at myself. The key is to put very minimal goals in your planner over breaks so that once you cross them off you feel like a productive superhero, but if you don’t get to them then you know you have time to complete them later. I might even do some reading for leisure or watch Netflix if I’m feeling extra frivolous.
Thanksgiving is always too short, but I’m determined to observe the holiday in the way it was intended: To give thanks. We should always give thanks for what we have, but this week is the optimal time to reflect on what makes us who we are. I won’t just be thankful for my own bed and my own relaxation, but I will be thankful for the people who make me love life.
