a time of thanks

why thanksgiving is so important

As it’s often told, the first Thanksgiving was like one of those family dinners where everyone’s trying to keep the peace, even though there’s a lot simmering under the surface. The Pilgrims, fresh off surviving their first brutal winter, were still figuring out how to grow crops without the whole dying of starvation thing. Then there are the Wampanoag people, who had been living there for thousands of years and were probably wondering who these pale, buckled-shoe folks think they are.

But somehow, they came together. The Wampanoag, led by Chief Massasoit, extended a helping hand, teaching the Pilgrims essential survival skills, like how to plant corn, catch fish, and recognize which berries won’t kill you. In turn, the Pilgrims decided to throw a harvest feast to celebrate not dying (a pretty low bar for a party, but hey, you take what you can get).

The feast itself was a little different from what we think of as Thanksgiving today. No turkey with stuffing or pumpkin pie. Instead, they likely ate lots of venison, wildfowl, corn mush, and maybe some seafood since Plymouth is right by the water. The Wampanoag brought a ton of food too, like when that one friend insists on bringing five sides even though you told them “just bring yourself.”

It was a three-day event, which, not gonna lie, sounds both fun and exhausting. You can imagine the Pilgrims awkwardly trying to make conversation, probably using broken English or hand gestures. The Wampanoag were likely side-eyeing the Pilgrims a bit, wondering if these newcomers were really worth all the trouble. But there was also laughter, stories, and the shared relief of knowing they’d survived a tough year.

And that’s the first Thanksgiving for you! Pretty different from what we think of the holiday now, don’t you think?

Or is it?

Maybe this idea of many different families coming together to share a meal and give thanks for all our many blessings is the same foundation laid by the Pilgrims and Native Americans all those years ago. (Or maybe now we’ve just created an excuse to stuff our faces with pie while watching parades and football games.)

man am i thankful for this lovely bird

While we don’t exactly live in Plymouth anymore, the spirit of Thanksgiving still lives on in our modern traditions. For me, Thanksgiving has always been about food, family, and gratitude. Every year, my family piles into our minivan and drives for hours on end to visit my great-aunt and -uncle (on my mom’s side). They host a huge party with tons of relatives I didn’t know I had, and then we stay for a few days afterward to spend quality time with our close aunts, uncles, and cousins.

This year was a perfect reflection of the very first Thanksgiving. We had a bit of a smaller party this year, but we still got to bring together my family and my cousin’s family with our aunt and uncle’s. Now, our families all come from different backgrounds and views, but we went beyond that to spend this holiday of thanks together. I’m sure tons of families don’t perfectly agree with each other, but that’s the great thing about family—we set aside our differences and focus on the fact that we are a family and we all love each other.

I was extremely grateful this year to see my cousins and aunts (well, okay, only one aunt 😆) and uncles. We all played tons of games together—card games, board games, storytelling games, trivia—and we all had a good time. Then we all sat around the table(s) and enjoyed a GARGANTUAN meal with each other, a glorious combo of all the foods we’ve eaten at reunions like this in the past.

This, I believe, is what the American tradition of Thanksgiving is really all about: giving thanks for our blessings, remembering how the Pilgrims and Native Americans set aside their differences to come together, and following their example with a feast of gratitude.

About now, I’d probably share a funny life story about Thanksgiving. However… alas, I cannot think of one 😭. I guess my life just isn’t one of those chaotic Christmas movies where something always goes beserk at family reunions (though perhaps I’ll start a food fight next year for the sake of this blog 😏). Over the years, my aunt and uncle have done an amazing job of organizing our families and creating a space of thanks and love, and for that, I extend my eternal gratitude to them and everything they do. On that note… let’s transition to a quick note on the idea of gratitude and thanksgiving.

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The terms thanksgiving and gratitude are often used interchangeably, but I believe there’s a significant distinction between them. Gratitude is more of a feeling: it’s about recognizing the good in our lives, whether it’s something as big as family or as small as a hot slice of pie. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, takes that a step further. It’s not just about feeling grateful; it’s about actively giving thanks.

Thanksgiving asks us to pause, gather with loved ones, and express that gratitude, through words, actions, or maybe even the act of passing the mashed potatoes. It’s a reminder to be present and intentional, to look around and say, “Wow, I’m so lucky to have all this.”

For me, gratitude this year has been about noticing the little things. Like my cousin giving my little siblings easy catches in jackpot, the way my great aunt’s pumpkin swirl never disappoints, or the laughter during a game of spoons after someone rips the tablecloth. It’s realizing that even in these little, seemingly insignificant moments, there’s so much to be thankful for.

Then there’s thanksgiving, which has been about turning those moments into something tangible: spending time with my family, sharing a meal, and telling them how much I appreciate them. Maybe that’s what makes Thanksgiving special—not just the feast, but the chance to reflect on what really matters and share it with the people who matter most.

At times, I’ve found myself neglecting these concepts. I’ve acted spoiled, entitled, rude to the people who do so much for me. But reflecting on it all, I come to realize that I don’t deserve anything. No one on this planet deserves anything. We came into the world naked and empty-handed. So everything we receive, every kind act done for us, is a blessing and it’s something that should never be taken for granted.

This year, as the Christmas season is rolling in and traditions similar to Thanksgiving are about to unfold, I urge you all and myself to take a step back once in a while. Take a good look at everything you have and wonder why it all came to be. Not because it’s your right to receive presents under the tree or a hot Christmas dinner… but because there is kindness and love in the world, and every single bit of it all is worth every possible amount of gratitude and every possible amount of thanksgiving you can offer.

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Hi, y’all.

First off, I’d like to apologize for not writing this post sooner. As I mentioned in this post, I’ve spent the last few days at my great-aunt and -uncle’s house. But, as I always say, I’m trying not to force myself into a concrete schedule; I wanna be flexible with my posting routine on this blog, even if it means forcing you all to wait a week or two for my next post (though I’m still sorry for that!).

Secondly, I had lots of fun working on this post. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for the reasons described in this piece. I’m so blessed to have the opportunities I do regarding this holiday, and I truly hope you guys do as well. Nothing beats a good Thanksgiving dinner with people you love.

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this post. If you did, feel free to click that heart to let me know. Also, if you wanna read more posts like this, make sure to subscribe. Oh and speaking on “subscribe”, I’d like to make one last note of thanksgiving… to y’all! To my beautiful subscribers, thank you so, so much for being here and reading the random little words I like to send y’all. Like I say a bit too often, it truly means to the world that you guys appreciate and support me and my work. Love you guys <3.

Wishing y’all the happiest of holidays and a wonderful, wonderful day.

Much love (and gratitude) <3