Now, more than ever, I think about Thanksgiving and what it means. Do you think it happens before Christmas for a reason? Perhaps that was done to encourage us to be thankful for what we have before we consider what we want.

Thanksgiving has always been a time to gather with family, some of whom come from faraway places, and enjoy a big meal. I mean, we don’t typically eat like that with a turkey, all the “fixins,” and desserts.

Growing up, Thanksgiving consisted of gathering the family together to eat. We didn’t talk about what we were thankful for. It was just an opportunity to eat a lot of good food and have leftovers.

A few years ago, I introduced the tradition at my house of going around the table at our Thanksgiving meal and sharing what we’re all thankful for. It made me feel how lucky I am. That’s what gratitude does.

This year, I’m stepping it up a notch. Yes, we’ll express what we’re thankful for, but I also want us to spend part of the day doing something we truly enjoy, even if it’s just for a few minutes. The new rule is that we will take a few minutes to be grateful and spend some time doing something that brings us joy.

Over the last several years, numerous buzzwords, such as “thankful” and “grateful,” have been featured on decor, clothing, accessories, and tablets, inspiring a sense of appreciation. I have this ceramic ball with “thankful” on it that reminds me to be thankful. That’s what it’s for, right? To remind us to be present and thankful. We need reminders now because our lives have gotten so busy.

 

Thanksgiving and other holidays have been overshadowed by competitive corporate businesses whose primary goal is to earn substantial profits during the Christmas season. You know it’s greed when Christmas decorations come out in September. Corporate business has effectively rushed our lives without us realizing the trend in time to stop it.

Today, we often complain about how quickly time passes, but is it because of us or something else? We’ve been bombarded with Christmas decorations months in advance, as well as home shopping networks and media advertising’s “Black Friday Deals” in July. It’s no longer just on the Friday after Thanksgiving, as it has been for years.

Slow Down!

We can slow down time and savor the moments of Halloween and Thanksgiving. We don’t have to put up our Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. The magic of Christmas has grown larger and larger—all the way into July with “Christmas in July.” Wow.

Tomorrow, whether you’re with a huge family or just you and a book, take a moment to reflect on what you’re thankful for and what makes your life great. We can all think of a few things that make our lives something special. Then, try to carry that feeling with you the next day and the next until your go-to thought is always abundance instead of lack.

Thanksgiving is meant to be a symbol of hospitality, gratitude, and peace. Let’s try to ease the pressure on us all to move through time more quickly.

Think about what we already have. We don’t need a lot of stuff we want. I learned that lesson. I would rather spend a day doing something that brings me joy with the people I love than playing with something new.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you capture that feeling of gratitude within your hearts. Share with others what you’re thankful for this Thanksgiving, and consider making it a tradition to make the day special, rather than just an excuse to gather the family.

Thank you for reading this. I am grateful for the opportunity to write these blogs and for the daily inspiration I receive. I am blessed, and so are all of you. Let’s slow down time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

To Thanksgiving,

Francesca

 

Created by a human for humans.

© 2025 FrancescaME | All rights reserved.