As I write this, I’m watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Broadcaster Savannah Guthrie just described Thanksgiving as one of the “most revered holidays in our country’s history.”
Thanksgiving Day is very nostalgic for me. I have many fond memories that include waking up early and excited to watch the Macy’s Parade with my sister, going over to my Mama’s house around lunch to bask in the glorious smell of her famous pumpkin crunch and begging her to let me have a piece, and finally getting to listen to Christmas music in the car as we drove home from dinner at my great-grandma’s. Oh, the feels.
I still take every fourth Thursday in November to reminisce on childhood Thanksgivings. But in recent years, Thanksgiving has become less of a significant holiday as it once was. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond grateful for everyone and everything in my life. I am even thankful that you’re taking time out of your day to read this post. But what if we treat every day with the same reverence? What if we went through each day with the same excitement and fervor as we do on Thanksgiving or other holidays?
Thanksgiving Day is just a normal day for me because I’ve integrated the practice of expressing gratitude into my everyday life. The first thing I do when I wake up is say a prayer of thanks. My Best Self Journal that I have been using for the past year has space for me to reflect on 3 things I’m grateful for every morning and 3 more things every night. I remember to say thank you in all of my daily interactions, and mean it. But you don’t even need to do these things. It can be as simple as saying thank you to the universe when you open your eyes every morning and again before your head hits the pillow every night. No matter how you choose to give thanks, when we consciously make it a daily habit, every day can be Thanksgiving Day.