I am a holidays girl. The span of time from about November 1 until about the end of the first week of January is my favorite. I love the cool weather, I love the fall & winter fashion, I love fireplaces and s’mores and pumpkins and Christmas trees and sparklers. I love changing up the decor around the house. I love the twinkly lights.
And I like them all one at a time. One day at a time. One season at a time. One holiday at a time.
One.holiday.at.a.time.
How is it that all of these holidays have come to run together? I’ve never been one to decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I know I’m in a shrinking minority. But something struck me today. As a kid, I always remember lots of emphasis on Thanksgiving. It was a stand alone holiday that brought family & friends together to celebrate. Now it’s become so commercialized that folks plan the day around hitting the biggest sales instead of planned around their greatest gifts.
There’s something lost in us when Thanksgiving isn’t given it’s due. We live in an entitled society where more often people are concerned with climbing that ladder and acquiring more stuff and forget to be thankful. What if we all stopped? What if we all just spent Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends? What if we stopped looking at what we don’t have and started focusing on what we do have? What if we stopped, really stopped, and took the time to be thankful?
Today, for now, just stop. Stop looking past Thanksgiving and look at Thanksgiving. Look around at all that you have to be thankful for. Stop worrying about that perfect gift that might be on sale on Thanksgiving afternoon and focus on the greatest gifts that you already have.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
BethBates.Life 