As we all know, the best time of the year is coming up—Thanksgiving! Most of us are preparing to gather with our family and friends, thinking about all the delicious food we’re about to eat! What we must not forget though, is what Thanksgiving is all about. And that is, giving thanks to all of your loved ones or anyone who has made a difference in your life. To do this, you don’t have to do something super big, unless you want to. There are easy and simple ways to show the people in your life that you’re thankful for them.
1. Make time to spend with the people you love
As busy college students, we sometimes forget about spending time with the important people in our lives. You may have neglected your relationships because you’ve been so busy with school and other things like extracurricular activities, homework, work, etc. So just make some time for these people. Call your friend that you haven’t hung out with for a while and go out for lunch, or go shopping with your mom or sister. Take your grandma out for a grocery run. Literally, anything as straightforward as that. Not only will you be showing your appreciation for those you love, but you’ll get the chance to catch up and bond as well.
2. Do them a simple favor
An unexpected gesture to show your appreciation for someone will not go unnoticed. You can take the initiative to wash your parents’ car or give your friend a ride home. You can volunteer to take your other half to work or make your roommate’s bed. Perhaps your good friend needs someone to dog-sit her dog for a short period of time. People will remember your little tokens of favors in the long run. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get something back because well, the point of doing favors is to not expect anything back anyway! But there may be a time in the future where you find yourself in a difficult situation and these people won’t forget that you helped them in their time of need.
3. Make a meal for someone
I don’t know about you but, whenever I get home from school or work, all I want to do is either eat or sleep. Whoever you live with, whether it be your bestie, your other half, or your family; cook up a meal for them! That’s one thing off of everybody’s checklist. Everyone wants to eat. Like I mentioned before, it doesn’t have to be something huge like a whole feast laid out on a table or a four-course meal. It can be something as effortless as some grilled-cheese or macaroni with a home-made cheese sauce. Maybe this person has a favorite meal that you’d like to make. Even if your cooking turns out to be a complete disaster, it’s the thought and the effort that counts.
4. Write a letter/card thanking someone
Sometimes words are better put-together when written on paper. Our ideas and feelings can be presented as much more thoughtful when it is “written in stone”. A store-bought card or better yet, a home-made one, will allow you to jot down all the reasons why you’re thankful for that person! For example, when I got a new job and Christmas came around, I gave my trainer a thank you card with a $5 Starbucks gift card inside of it. What she most appreciated though, were my words. I thanked her for teaching me and training me on the job. So the point here is—you don’t have to buy anything and people appreciate when you thank them formally.
5. Tell someone “thank you”
At times, we may forget to simply say “thank you” to the people in our lives. You may not notice it, but there are many people in your life who have helped you. Whether it be your professors, for giving you the opportunity to re-take your exam, your parents who help you pay your college tuition, your best friend who always gives you a ride home or cleans up your mess in the dorm. Whatever these people have done for you, let them know that their gestures have not gone unnoticed. Believe it or not, people remember when you thank them and when you don’t thank them, and forgetting to thank someone is a big no-no in any type of relationship.
There are so many ways to show the people in your life that you’re thankful for them! Thanksgiving is a reminder that we have many things to be thankful for. Whether your life is going great or not-so-great right now, never forget what you have and what people have done for you. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!