Each February when Valentine's Day rolls around once more, you've likely heard the phrase, "You don't need a holiday to tell someone that you love them! It's silly!" I can agree to that statement. But still, my husband and I get into the spirit anyhow and write little love notes to each other. But anyway, it isn't exactly 2015 yet, is it? So why rush talking about Valentine's Day? Well, because Thanksgiving is coming up, of course!
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| Thanksgiving is slightly cooler, though. Because pie. |
I know, I know. Cue the "What is she talking about?" While the two "holidays" certainly do not share very many similarities, I have found that there is one thing that the two days have in common with one another. To me, and this is only my opinion, a majority of people only take the time out at the tail end of November to voice what they are thankful for.
Why should we wait until the end of the year to give thanks for what we have? If you ask me, we should take a few short moments out of each and every single day to remember what we are thankful for. Life moves past us so fast. In the blink of an eye, our babies go from newborns to toddlers, from toddlers to children, from children to high schoolers, and high schoolers to college students. You get the idea.
A reoccurring theme that you'll find in my writings is that I am a staunch advocate of living in the moment, enjoy today. Life is short, and there is so much out there to see, and an endless amount of things to experience. People to meet, friends to make, places to see. It's important to reflect on what we have, rather than focus on the things that we don't have.
I'm not saying that every single person is like that. I know that isn't true. But from what I have seen, a majority of people use Thanksgiving as a day to make themselves look better by listing what they are thankful for. While it's nice to share, I think that social media rules so much of our lives already, that it is important to keep some things private. I could list what I am thankful for here in my blog, I would rather reflect on it personally, during that special time, right after Syrus goes to sleep, when all is quiet and Jeremy hasn't arrived home from work yet.
Thanksgiving isn't so much a holiday to be celebrated to me, as it is a state of mind.
50 comments:
What a thought provoking article certainly made me think!
I had never thought to compare these two holidays. But, I get what you're saying. Enjoy the moment, each other, and pie!
I'm the same in thinking that everything you're thankful for doesn't need to be turned into a attention grabbing social media post. I think it makes it less sacred and important. I have seen less people doing that this year. So, either they're not being thankful at all or they are finally realizing how sacred and special it is to keep those things to yourself. Great post.
Great article. I'm less of a Valentine's Day girl. Never did anything and we don't do anything about it. It's just a Hallmark holiday like we call it on retail. Like you say is a state of mine. However, what even when I worked Thanksgiving what I loved about it was seeing how the families got together and enjoyed their day. Even though I worked, I love that my family was together on that date. If that makes sense.
Great post, again. Really got me thinking.
What a lovely article... I'm an in the moment girl as well.... life is so short and we simply have to celebrate each and every day, love the special occasions and be thankful for all of it!
XO sarita it's my girls' world
You are SO right! We need to show our love and be thankful for what we have every.single.day. Thanks for the reminder.
Tracee
http://Happy2BaHomemaker.com
I agree with you. Having 2 close friends pass away so young this year puts things into perspective. Be thankful every day and cherish each moment@
I love this sentiment. Thanksgiving should be a state of mind everyday. So true. Thanks for sharing.
I love this post. Being thankful is a state of mind. It's not just saved for holidays. The same goes with love. And really, if you aren't thankful for love, what can you be thankful for?
Thanks for sharing your opinion on giving thanks. I also love to live in the moment and give thanks every day. I've faced death and every day I wake up is a time to give thanks. I've never thought to compare Thanksgiving and V Day before.
I agree with you it is def a state of mine. I kind of dislike all the hype with these festivities, I do love the food though :)
I'm not big on celebrating Valentine's Day because I don't agree with expressing extra love on a single day. I'd rather not get anything on Valentine's Day but have certainty & feel it every single day of the year. It's the same thing about being grateful. It cannot be just for a day.
Very good point. I like thanksgiving simply because it gives me extra time to share a meal with friends and family and sometimes that's enough to be thankful for.
I like that these two holidays remind us to be thankful, but we really shouldn't have to be reminded. I do still love both of these holidays, though - especially Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day seem very different at first, but you're right they are quite similar once you think about it! Great post!
Wow this is pretty interesting, never would have though of these two holidays as being related at all! Thanks for the new perspective :)
This is such a great post and I totally agree with you, they are quite the same. Also agree with you on the fact that some things should remain private. I think social media has made over-sharing every little detail a way of life for some people.
Ooh, great point! I've started a gratitude practice (thanks Oprah) and I love it. It helps to bring life into perspective.
Definitely a great point. And come to think about it, Valentine's doesn't have to be that day you share with just one person, it can be the day you share your love for everyone. I like that!
I think it's important to keep some things private too. Great post!
I love this article. You are so right we should show the ones we love that we love them everyday and that we are thankful for all we have.
This post has really given me something to think about. Thanks for sharing.
I like Thanksgiving and I agree that it is important to be thankful all year round. I no longer like Valentine's Day. It reminds me to much of someone that I lost.
I totally agree you should thank and it's time to thank and not wait until Thanksgiving, haha! In my culture, it's not even a holiday, so we really don't have this problem in our family :)
Very insightful! It's true - you don't need Thanksgiving to show thanks, or Valentine's day to show love. But it is nice to have these holidays around to get together and show all the love and appreciation you can! Especially when dessert is involved :P
Very interesting! I would have never thought of it like that, but you're right!
Great post which makes you think, yeah this is what we all should do, live life day by day. I really agree with it, actually my fav quote says it all: "Life is a journey, not a destination"- and I'm enjoying every moment of it ;)
Great thought. I think that should be the spirit of life. We are so busy brooding over past and anxious about future that we let present slip away. Why waste it. Life is in today. Thanks for sharing such wonderful thought.
This will be our first Thanksgiving in the USA. I'm actually really excited about it because we're Canadian (and our's is in October). We've invited our Canadian friends who ALSO just moved here - so we'll be having a nice ol' feast. :)
I never looked at it that way! I completely agree with you though, we should be taking time every day to remember what we are thankful for. I try to encourage this with my daughter and although she is only 3, I like to have discussions with her about things and people she is thankful for and/or appreciates.
That's right, we shouldn't wait for an occasion to say you love them or to thank people. Have a great thanksgiving this year.
Omg I never would of thought of this comparison... But I'm going to have to agree with you!!! Be thankful and say I love you everyday folks ;-)
What a great post. I try to be thankful for some thing every day. On Thanksgiving we all write what we are thankful for on our turkey name cards that are on the table.
Very interesting, I would have never thought of the same 2 as the same.
Extremely thought provoking! I would have never thought of how alike the two holidays were. But you're right, being thankful and loving each day is what we should be doing instead of a couple times a year!
Great article!
What a great article. Thanks giving is such a private family moment for us when we teach our kids the meaning of thankfulness.
I had never thought of it that way before. Thanks for the thought!
I agree with you, everyday is a great opportunity to be thankful of what we have. Thanksgiving day is just a highlight but being grateful all year round is better.
I guess the same could be said very every holiday, it's to spend time with those you love and care about.
You couldn't have said it better - I totally believe that, too! :)
That really makes you think! I hadn't thought to compare those two holidays.
Holidays are definitely spent with the ones you love!
I never thought of these two holidays of being similar, but know I can totally see hat you're saying. Nice article.
That is an interesting take on the holiday. I never thought about it that way!
Jennifer,
This is a good, thought-provoking article. I had not put Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving into the same category, but you make a good point. Both days are spent with our loved ones and both days are designed to show our appreciation and who we are most thankful for. Besides, both days gives us the time to pause think, thank, and eat!
I like the idea of keeping some things private especially parts of the holidays. Definitely a new way of looking at Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving.
I definitely agree that there is no reason that you should wait until those days to express your love and gratitude. If you are only doing that 2 days out of the year, I doubt that your relationships are very healthy. Of course, people tend to show it more on those days, but ever day is a chance to say I love you or thank you.
Wow, never thought about it like that before, but so true. Great post!
I like how you refer to the Thanksgiving holiday as 'a state of mind.' I too, am a firm believer of living in the moment.
Wow you gave me a worth reading article! Definitely sharing this
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