happy thanksgiving?
The time is coming! This week, we will be sitting at the table exchanging lovely words with distant aunts and uncles about the economic state of the world, making travels far and wide to see extended family, chasing after (sticky?) kids, or trying to get the teenager who used to consider you the “cool cousin” to glance up from their phone.
This time of a year can feel like a drag or burden on many. We love our families, but isn’t it tough to do all of these things for people who we don’t even see that often?
Here is a new perspective and a potential challenge for this holiday season.
Be grateful for every moment.
It can be difficult not to yell at your siblings in the car, get mad at your Mom for vetoing your outfit, or be upset with the kids screaming through your grandparents house.
As cliché as it sounds; try to be truly grateful during this holiday season.
Look at the things you find annoying as something others would die to have. Challenge yourself to look at the holidays by imagining it through the lens of others.
perspective
James: A retired war veteran who came back to no family and is on the streets on Thanksgiving night in the winter cold.
Mary: Her mother died last Christmas, and this is her first Thanksgiving without her.
Lauren: Studying abroad, and this is her first Thanksgiving without her family. Eating a frozen TV dinner and calling her family in her dorm room.
Jen: A nurse pulling a 12 hour shift the night of Thanksgiving, holding hands of patients who have no one else to be at their bedside.
Omar: A refugee spending his first Thanksgiving in the states; trying to understand the traditions and customs but he is grateful regardless.
Mariam: A child sheltering in between buildings in an active war zone; not knowing when her next meal will be.
why does this matter to you?
This is not to guilt trip you in any form, but to truly think about others this holiday season who may have it much harder than you.
If others can brave the winter cold, being abroad, in war zones and so much more- you can survive one night with the sticky kids, loud uncles, and political talk of the table.
This leads to a bigger story though: giving back to those who are less fortunate.
As you read these bits and pieces of others who may not have it as good as you do, remember there are ways to give back in your community. The holidays are the best time to do it.
Donating winter clothes, canned foods, serving at your local food kitchen, and everything in between truly matters to those who don’t have it all during the holidays.
the list
Again- this is not to invalidate your specific issues with your family or unhappiness during the holidays, but a challenge to have you look at the bigger picture of what you have.
So, here is an extremely, extremely, long list of things to be thankful for. I hope you come back here on the days you feel upset, ungrateful, or even on the way to the dreaded family Thanksgiving. You can be thankful for:
The rare moments when a family member tells you they’re proud of you.
The friend who always answers your call on the first ring.
Having someone to miss, even when the distance hurts.
A professor who sees your potential before you do.
A warm meal made by someone who loves you.
The courage you’ve developed this year, even if you didn’t notice it happening.
A bed that feels safe after a long, overwhelming day.
The ability to learn, grow, and change your life’s direction.
The feeling of being included in a room you once felt afraid to walk into.
A friend who keeps the porch light on for you.
The moment you realized you outgrew an old version of yourself (maybe even from who you were last Thanksgiving?).
A friend who remembers the smallest details about your life.
The strength it took to heal from something no one knows about.
Community in the unexpected places: whether it’s classmates, roommates, coworkers, or people who feel like family.
The opportunities you have simply because someone believed in you.
A holiday table that still has a seat for you.
Your health.
The privilege of planning a future when many people can only focus on surviving the present.
Silence that feels peaceful instead of lonely.
The luxury of feeling annoyed by the small things, because it means your basic needs are met.
Friends who hold space for you even when you’re not your best self.
The chance to love and be loved — even imperfectly.
A hug you didn’t know you needed.
The ability to put time and money into an education as an investment.
good luck
So, here’s to holiday travels and reunions! Maybe mentally prepare yourself for the “Why are you still single?” interrogation… but, remember to be kind, be present, and be grateful. Even when things feel overwhelming, there is always something or someone to be thankful for.