As the holiday season approaches, acknowledging Thanksgiving is important. Many know Thanksgiving as the “middle child” holiday where Christmas begins the day after Halloween ends. However, Thanksgiving should be more meaningful. It is the one time of year where families get together and enjoy their time together, nothing else. According to Therese, a grandmother of six grandchildren, “On Christmas everyone thinks about presents, not the true meaning.” Christmas should be known not just for the presents, but also the gathering of loved ones and pure joy. With “81% of non-Christians in the United States celebrating Christmas” (Pew Research Center) and the fact it is the biggest holiday celebrated worldwide, I believe many people should tap into the more important aspects of it. Thanksgiving though, has its meaning in the name. It is a time to be thankful for everything around you. Whether it is your family, friends, the house you live in, the food on your plate- Thanksgiving is the time to recognize these important things. Not to mention, all the work put into preparing everything. Your Thanksgiving classics such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, casseroles, pies, bread rolls, and more are there on the table when it’s time to eat. But, have you ever acknowledged the people who worked extremely hard to put it together? In my family everyone takes part in at least one thing, but every year my Me mere takes the majority. I assumed she enjoyed the preparation as she always arrives early to help and such. But, when I asked her she said “… I loved it to a point, I’ve done it for so many years, I believe it’s better for others to do it now.” When she shared that it made me think of how much effort it must take towards putting Thanksgiving together. In fact, it made me want to help out as much as I can for the many more Thanksgivings to come. So, this Thanksgiving make it your personal goal to help out as well. Your contribution can be setting up the table, organizing games to play later, hosting, or even cooking for Thanksgiving. Each part is crucial to how the holiday unfolds. And ultimately, be thankful for the opportunity to celebrate. Happy Thanksgiving!