Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on what we’re thankful for, it is a holiday where we gather with family and friends to remind us of all the love in our lives. I think it’s safe to say that this Thanksgiving is different for all of us. Whether you are staying at home, traveling, visiting extended family, or just spending it with your immediate family, 2020 has changed our annual Thanksgiving traditions. As easy as it is to complain and feel negative about this time, I have been focusing my energy on finding new ways to practice positivity. Here are a few ways I have reminded myself of the things I am thankful for this year.
Surrounded myself with encouragement
Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on what we’re thankful for, it is a holiday where we gather with family and friends to remind us of all the love in our lives. I think it’s safe to say that this Thanksgiving is different for all of us. Whether you are staying at home, traveling, visiting extended family, or just spending it with your immediate family, 2020 has changed our annual Thanksgiving traditions. As easy as it is to complain and feel negative about this time, I have been focusing my energy on finding new ways to practice positivity. Here are a few ways I have reminded myself of the things I am thankful for this year.
I am a firm believer that the messages and media we expose ourselves to on a day to day basis affects our mindset. We spend so much of our time-consuming media, whether it is online, on tv, or on the radio. Shouldn’t we make sure that the media is bettering our thoughts?
The next time you turn on a screen, ask yourself:
- Will this teach me something?
- Will this bring me joy?
- Will this inspire me?
We want to be surrounded by things that will encourage us to become better versions of ourselves. Doing this has helped me view media in a completely new light and taught me new ways to grow; which I am incredibly thankful for.
Wrote down things I am thankful for
This summer, I started writing down things that I was thankful for each day. At first, it was so hard to come up with a couple of things. But, the more I practiced, the more I was able to write each day. Gratitude is a quality, but it is not one that comes naturally. We must practice the way we view our lives so that we can be thankful for every aspect. The more time we spend recognizing the good, the easier it is to find it when we need it most!
Strengthened my relationships
Back in high school and even college, I didn’t really have strong relationships. I would get so caught up with school that I would find myself alone on weekends or time off. This year one of my resolutions was to make sure that I dedicated more time to my relationships so that I could show them that I am thankful and appreciate them. The pandemic, of course, made this a little challenging; but instead of just giving up on this goal of mine, I decided to continue trying.
Luckily, 2020 has brought so many new ways to strengthen relationships that I didn’t know about previously. With new ways of being able to communicate with someone, I was able to reach my friends virtually. I am very thankful for these tools, especially as a lot of my friends and I near graduation. We can continue to use things like Zoom, even after the pandemic to keep in touch.
I hope you all have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving holiday! How do you plan on spending the holidays this year? What do you do to stay thankful? I would love to know in the comments below.
Katelyn Sinclair Blog 