Happy Thanksgiving!

It is that time of year. The time to fill our bellies to the max and eat our weight in food. It is the time to watch football with our families. The time of year to watch the elaborate and fantastic floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. It's the time to share the family recipes and break the wishbone with another family member. The time of year where us as a people spend too much money and time waiting outside stores to get the next big toy or electronic at the "best" price. 

While all of those things can be fun, it shouldn't be the only thing we think about on this day. Why is this day special on our calendar? Why must we celebrate it every year? 

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn't until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

So there you have it. 

Now for me it is about the history of it but it is more of the togetherness and attitude of gratitude that means the most to me. I am thankful for the time that we don't have to work and can just enjoy one another's company without any worries. It is a way for me to share with my children what is really important in life. Not football, or stuffing our faces, or the next big sale. 

Thanksgiving has become so commercialized. I love that people all over Facebook and Instagram have decided to share their 30 days of thanks but why limit it to only November? Why not be thankful all the time? 

Every year Black Friday happens and every year it starts sooner and sooner. It breaks my heart that the employees of these stores in competition have to come in to experience the chaos that ensues their establishments just so selfish and inconsiderate customers can get that T.V. for $300 dollars or the next big toy for half off, or the next electronic for pennies. It is just so sad to me to think people cater their Thanksgiving day festivities around when they have to leave for Walmart, Best Buy, Target, JCPenney or wherever it is that they all go. 

If it were a perfect world, all establishments would be closed on Thanksgiving. 

But it's not and every year it will be the same. The people will keep going and the stores will keep opening even earlier. 

I will just continue to celebrate the real reason for Thanksgiving in my little apartment with my little family and the little bit of thanks that we have.