Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. For me, it’s about being with loved ones and sharing food together. While I understand and respect the concept of refuting the myths about the Pilgrims and Indigenous people that some associate with the holiday, for this post I’m just stating my personal take on the day.
My mother was in charge of the holiday when I was growing up, and I inherited the hostess role. Now, my husband and I have our nearby relatives over, plus the occasional stranded college student or other guests. I make the turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. My husband buys the bread and wine, and my sister’s and daughter’s families provide the other dishes. We gather in the late afternoon, get the feast ready, then sit at one or two tables. My addition to the tradition is that I “make” everyone say one thing they are thankful for. It helps keep the spirit of the holiday, plus gives us a chance to say publicly how much we appreciate each other.
This year, I have so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for my writing life—it’s a pleasure to create stories, and I’m grateful to my writing colleagues and all the wonderful people I’ve met on my writing journey. I am thankful that I have purpose in my life, reasons to get up every morning to help make this world a better place.
My hope is that you also have things to be thankful for. May this holiday season be a time of peace and joy for you. Happy Thanksgiving!