Teen Editor-in-Chief Brooklynn Cooper.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving? Most people think of turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and other popular fixings. Food is one of the highlights of Thanksgiving, but some people have become so caught up in what is on their plates that they have forgotten what the holiday is about.
One of the most annoying phenomenons that happens during any holiday is that emotions become inflated for just one day. Couples may go to extreme measures on Valentine’s Day and bicker every other day of the year. People seem determined to better themselves every new year, and by February, they have slipped back into their old habits. Sadly, Thanksgiving is no different. Participants take the time to create heartfelt toasts at the dinner table about their family members, but by Christmas, they are complaining about the sucky presents they received from the same relatives.
No one is going to be in good spirits every single day; that is not how life works. Thanksgiving is meant to recognize the aspects of life we are thankful for, but people should make an effort to be grateful throughout the year. People continuously say that “life is short” and we should “take advantage of every new day,” so why not practice what we preach by finding ways to consistently show our appreciation? The gestures do not have to be anything extravagant, just pull some loved ones aside and let them know what they mean to you.
Food has also become too much of a focal point of Thanksgiving. Grocery stores frequently advertise markdowns and deals on popular dishes, but there are families that cannot afford large meals. This leads families in poverty to believe that they cannot have a pleasant Thanksgiving because of their lack of traditional food, when in reality they can have a happy holiday by paying tribute to what they are thankful for in life.
The time is long overdue for the true meaning of Thanksgiving to be embraced, and once it is embraced, the themes of the holiday should be ever present in our daily lives.