Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. The intentional effort to give thanks and to reflect on our blessings creates an atmosphere of gratitude. Each year, before my family and I take part in our Thanksgiving dinner, my grandma asks us to circle around the table. After we have circled up, each family member shares something they are thankful for. I find myself looking forward to this moment when the whole extended family shares a moment of vulnerability with one another; it is moving to share with your loved ones what you are truly thankful for. The great thing about the atmosphere of gratitude that surrounds Thanksgiving is that it leads to a deeper, more honest reflection. If my family and I did this activity on any other day of the year, we would probably share more superficial things that we are thankful for. I would probably say I am thankful for my friends or for sports. However, the reflective spirit of Thanksgiving seems to spark this desire to open ourselves up and share our deepest feelings of gratitude and appreciation. It is amazing the levels of emotion a holiday can evoke.
nn
For me, Thanksgiving is special. Every year, at the end of the day’s activities I find myself realizing my family members are my best friends. There is nobody I would rather spend my time with. My entire extended family lives within twenty minutes of one another. This is something I took for granted until I went to college and realized most people do not have a large amount of family members living nearby to them. Our family spends a lot of time together, and it can be easy to overlook how special our situation is. I have strong relationships with all of my cousins because of the time we spent together growing up. Our strong relationships with one another make holidays all that more special. When we circle together around the table on Thanksgiving, often someone will share a great joy that occurred within the immediate family. Or they share a moment of hardship followed with the gratitude for the support they received from the family. It seems as though most of the blessings or moments shared revolve around the importance of love and support given by our family. I am extremely thankful for this bond that my family has with one another.
nn
As you gather around the table this Thursday, whether with family or friends, take a moment to reflect on how lucky you are to have these people in your life.
nn
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
