As soon as it hits November 1, it becomes acceptable and encouraged to start decorating for Christmas. Just as Halloween comes to an end, you start seeing Christmas Hallmark movies on TV, Christmas decor in stores and Christmas music on the radio. But most people skip right over Thanksgiving, an equally important time for family and friends to gather. Is this really how we should be treating Thanksgiving?
When you are younger, the idea of Christmas seems absolutely perfect, making it hard for any holiday to even compare, but as you grow up it becomes a more stressful holiday. Picking out the perfect gifts for your loved ones, making sure to send everyone a Christmas card, spending loads of money to make sure your house looks decently decorated are all components that create a hectic time for most; all things celebrating Thanksgiving do not entail. Although there are so many great things about it, it is not taken into account the amount of pressure put on people.
Personally, as I have gotten older, I have begun to appreciate the holiday Thanksgiving. Being the youngest of three in my family, means my siblings being gone at college for months on end. This has made Thanksgiving that much more special, a time I get to spend time with my whole family, something I had previously taken for granted.
Aside from getting to spend quality time with family. Thanksgiving, at least in my house, is a lot less stressful holiday than Christmas is. There are no gifts, elaborate decorations, and perfection expected. It is a time to reflect on what you are thankful for in your life, with your favorite people, over a nicely prepared meal. Thanksgiving looks different for everybody, but one thing as a whole we need to address is how overlooked this holiday is.
