by Madison Starr

Created on: November 20, 2009

As the holidays quickly approach, it's easy to get swept up in the chaos of the season. Not only do we tend to worry about financial issues, we also rush to purchase the gifts in time, plan the perfect family get-together, and subject ourselves to the horrors of travel in order to make the holidays perfect for our loved ones and ourselves. I sometimes begin to wonder if we've all lost sight of what the holidays actually mean.

In many parts of the world, societies are already preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other festivals that take place in December. Here in the U.S., Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Let's, for a moment, put aside our focus on Black Friday deals and concentrate on the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

What does it mean to you? Do you actually give thanks on this historical day? What is your family's tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving? Whatever it is, there are many ways to give thanks. Some people say a prayer; others donate their time or money to charity. You can sit down with your family over a huge dinner or with a select group of friends at your local diner. The most important thing is to be grateful for what you have, even if in your eyes, you don't have much.

If we, as people, realize that our lives could all be much worse than they are, we shouldn't have trouble finding something to be thankful for. Each day, I come across many people who seem completely oblivious to their blessings. I, myself, have been guilty of this from time to time. We get so caught up in our own lives and what we desire that we don't stop to smell the roses. Then it happens. Something terribly tragic or frustrating occurs and puts us back in place. We can either learn from it or succumb to all of our setbacks.

Many people do not start out their day with a prayer, nor do they end on one. We can remember to say thank you for a wrapped present or passing compliment, but we don't always acknowledge what we take for granted. We tend not to say thank you for our good health and fortune. We forget to be grateful that we have clean water to drink and clothes on our backs. If you've lived a life that has been without violence or disease, appreciate that. If you can call up your loved ones just to say hello, give thanks for that.

There is so much to be thankful for in this world. Sure, we have wars, famine, pestilence, natural disasters, crime, poverty, and fifty million other things that make it difficult to be optimistic. However, we must not let those things deter us from recognizing all the good that surrounds us. There is happiness if we let go of our greed, anger, and envy. As soon as you start thinking of all the things you don't have, you lose sight of what you've already got.

Each and every person has a unique perspective on the world. We all have different things to be thankful for and show our appreciation in various ways. Thanksgiving is the day we give thanks, but don't you think we should do it the other 364 days as well? It's just a thought.

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