Like many people, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, but not because of all of the mountains of mashed potatoes, piles of stuffing, and stacks of hot turkey smothered in gravy. Instead, it’s my favorite holiday because it’s a day that I get to surround myself with family and spend time with everyone. It also allows me to catch up with those that I don’t get to see on a day to day basis. It’s not often that the majority of families can come together as one, so please don’t take this day for granted. It’s important to not just focus on the food aspect of Thanksgiving, because acknowledging the reasons why you’re thankful for your friends, family, and loved ones should be more of a priority.
For me, my family is the most important aspect of my life because they stick by my side through thick and thin. They are my supporters who will always be there, cheering me on with everything I strive to accomplish even when I feel like giving up. When times are tough and I’m overwhelmed, they never fail to put a smile on my face. I can rely on each and every single person, but most importantly, I’m comfortable going to them and asking for their help. Your family is a group of people that accepts you for who you are, they (should) give you the feeling of belonging. They are the ones that know you like no one else does because they have been with you for your entire life. Ask yourself, have you ever expressed your appreciation for your family directly to them? If you have never articulated your love and/or gratitude for them, or haven’t recently, now is the time. However, even though it’s Thanksgiving, this isn’t the only time you should be displaying your gratitude for them: instead, do it all year long.
A fun way to spend Thanksgiving with family is to travel. My family’s Thanksgiving tradition is to go to the Outer Banks, North Carolina for the week. Now I know what you’re thinking, “You’re crazy for not wanted to be at home for Thanksgiving”, and although it would be nice, this is our home away from home. It’s our happy place that we will never get tired of. Plus, what’s a better way than waking up Thanksgiving morning and looking out of the window to be welcomed by the endless, sparkling blue ocean? Nothing. Not a single thing in the world can beat that. This is also a time for us to disconnect from the world and spend time with one another with no distractions. There’s no stress, no racing to get things done – it’s the time to sit back and relax. We use this time to interact with one another and plan the fun and exciting things to do throughout the week to create memories that we will remember forever. All of the laughing fits until we’re in tears, playing intense rounds of cards until midnight, shivering on the beach while looking for shells, running up endless sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge, – these are only a few of the countless memories that we hold down here and will cherish for years to come. I love my family to infinity and beyond and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. We’re one big dysfunctional family, but we’re also inseparable. Ohana’ means ‘family’, ‘family’ means no one gets left behind. No family is perfect, there will always be small (or big) fights and disagreements. However; at the end of the day, we are family and we’re going to stick by one another. Together, we will help each other grow and continue to walk down this crazy path of life holding hands. No one gets left behind, no one gets forgotten, no one is alone. They are my safe haven, my forever, and most importantly, my family.
Don’t take your family for granted. They are the ones that will always have your back even if sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. Take a few minutes this Thanksgiving and tell your family why you are thankful for them. It can be as simple as thanking them for making you laugh or as complex as thanking them for helping you get through a tough time. Here is my challenge to you: I challenge you and your family to go around the Thanksgiving dinner table and have each person say one thing that they are grateful for this year. To go even further, I encourage everyone to take the extra step and do an act of kindness for someone else. While Thanksgiving is a day where people drool just thinking about shoveling green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie in their mouth – it’s a day to show your gratitude for your family and loved ones and to let them know that their support and love does not go unnoticed.