With Thanksgiving around the corner, we can take the time to show appreciation through a nice meal with loved ones near and far. Yet, we tend to forget the meaning behind the holiday. There’s more to Thanksgiving than the holiday festivities. The general concept is giving back to someone who has done something for you or being grateful for someone who has done so much for you.
From buying food for a stranger to giving someone company, an act of thanksgiving can vary in many ways. Some things may seem too simple, yet can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Here are several ways of showing gratitude towards a familiar person or a random stranger.
Simply saying thank you
It seems far-fetched, but just saying these words to someone you’d often see, like a service worker or anyone who sacrificed their time, energy, and even their life, can make their entire day. These people deserve to hear these meaningful words of genuine appreciation.
Giving a gift
People feel appreciated when they receive a gift, especially when they feel less deserving of it. A gift can carry many different meanings, but for the sake of thanksgiving, you can give someone an object you have worked hard to purchase to show how meaningful they are to you. You can also give someone your time by helping them prepare that nice turkey dinner or set up the table for the family.
Show compassion
One of the most important things during the holiday season is to show compassion to those around you, especially those whose life experiences are different than your own. You can help distribute food or vital supplies to those who need it most, or also donate goods to the homeless. As stated earlier, doing any of these actions shows compassion to anyone who receives it. In addition to giving gifts or showing appreciation, this is an important thing to do during the holiday season.
Even though different people can interpret the meaning of thanksgiving differently, it is important to remember that we should always show compassion to everyone, even those outside our social circles. It would be our hope that these necessary acts would continue throughout the year and not only during the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!