Thanksgiving Without the Feast

I'm some days late, but never too late to give thanks. There was no pumpkin pie for me this Thanksgiving, but it was definitely another chance to reflect.

To give thanks for the past year. To give thanks for the wonderful people in my life. To be grateful for my job, the food on my table, and the clothes on my back.

Yes, I'm thankful for all of those, and all of the other wonderful, cliche things we are thankful for. It's no coincidence that we all echo each other when giving thanks. We are truly lucky to have those things.

And then there are the blessings in disguise.

Thankful for regrets, for they might influence my decisions in the future. Thankful for the silver lining of having to push hurtful people away, because I'm able to make room for positive people. Thankful for the challenges, because they teach me that good things don't come easily. And if they do, I should be wise enough to actively preserve them.

Sometimes, we are thankful for the events we never foresaw. This year, I'm thankful to be living abroad. And grateful to be learning a new language. And thankful for meeting new people, and with that, having the chance to start with a clean slate.

But even with the new, I am still thankful for the old. Because even though I'm changing and people may not recognize me through the changes, I can say with confidence that those I've known the longest will love me unconditionally. And know me well enough to gently point me in the right direction, if need be.

I vocalize my gratitude during this commercial season of giving thanks, because just as we shouldn't limit ourselves to a single day of reflection, it's foolish to stop giving thanks, even for a single day.

Happy Thanksgiving.