Ever since I started working in retail I feel like I have missed Thanksgiving. From observing the holiday from the outside, I have decided to skip over it and start prepping for Christmas. Here is why:
Horrible Origins
We all learned in third grade that the first Thanksgiving was between the Pilgrims and Indians celebrating bountiful harvests in the New World. While this version is great for children, they never explained in such detail the real story of Thanksgiving. The real reason those Pilgrims were giving thanks was for slaughtering about 700 unarmed men, women, and children of the Pequot Tribe, many of whom were sleeping. When those Pilgrims returned to the colonies they declared the next day to be Thanksgiving. But us Americans would rather imagine Pilgrims and Indians sitting side by side while we stuff our faces and watch football.
Be Thankful Always
I honestly do not need a day to reflect on what all I am thankful to have. Growing up, I realized life is extremely short so that makes me thankful every day for what I have in my life. I am blessed to attend a great school, have supportive family and friends, as well as be healthy. I think we should take a few minutes every day to think about what we are glad to have because it could easily be lost.
Get Prepared for Christmas
Thanksgiving has slowly wandered away from being a celebration with family. This could be because families do not live as close anymore, so this is the only time to go out together. Thanksgiving recently has been spent prepping for Black Friday, or even Grey Thursday. Many malls have begun to open at 6 pm on Thursday, cutting Thanksgiving short or eradicating it completely. My Thanksgivings at home have been spent eating breakfast and lunch with family before sleeping and heading in to work before dinner is even served.
These are the main reasons why I will be skipping Thanksgiving this year and start getting ready for my favorite holiday, Christmas. While Thanksgiving is not a horrible holiday in my mind, I think it should be refocused and rebranded back to spending time with the people you are truly thankful to have in your life.