When you think of Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? Let me guess, the turkey? Or the food? Most people don’t actually realize how important Thanksgiving is. It’s more than just the turkey and the stuffing. This is a time to express gratitude for your friends, your family, and most importantly, for God. During the Thanksgiving season, you see a lot of people talking about turkeys and foliage. When someone mentions gratitude, it forces you to sit down and think. You scratch your chin and think to yourself, “What are ways that I can show gratitude?” Whether it’s to a family member, a friend, your favorite teacher, or even a stranger, gratitude can be shown in many different ways.
Donating to a shelter
Donating to a shelter in one of the more obvious ways you can show gratitude. By recognizing that God has given you a good life, you can pay forward whatever you do not need. For some, this may mean thousands and thousands of dollars. For others, this may mean old toys, old clothes, and simple necessities that you can afford to spare. Without realizing it, that one toothbrush that you donate could completely change someone else’s life. It is time to start recognizing how lucky we are, and to start paying back to those in need.
Writing a letter
There is no better way to express gratitude than to simply state it in words. Writing a letter gives you the chance to recognise those who have positively influenced our lives and express kindness towards them that you have not yet thanked them for. While it gives you the opportunity to be honest with the receiver, it also gives them an insight on how much you appreciate them.
Taking a reflection walk
Taking a walk may seem pointless, but it gives you the chance to focus on you and to reflect on how you have been behaving. Have you been grateful? Have you identified the acts of kindness that people show you? Have you been expressing thankfulness and gratitude to God? If the answer for most of these questions is no, then this is your signal to change that. Next time you take a reflection walk, maybe those answers will be yes, instead of no.
Saying “thank you”
Although it might not seem like a lot, saying “thank you” can get you a long way. Think about it; you don’t necessarily have to say: “thank you,” it’s just proper courtesy. By saying “thank you” to a parent or to a teacher, it shows them that you acknowledge them, and that you are truly thanking them for what they do. It will make them feel appreciated and loved; feelings that are very important around the holidays.
Giving a hug
Again, giving a hug doesn’t necessarily mean much at a glance. Despite the fact that the hug can mean absolutely nothing, it can also be used as a sign of comfort, love, and friendship. Just because you say you care about your friend, doesn’t mean you actually care about her. Instead of saying that you love her, which could be a lie, just simply give her a hug. Even though it is an easy movement that any of us could complete, giving a hug can reassure her that you and her are still very close friends. It brings the comfort of knowing that someone cares about you and will always be there through your ups and downs.
At Montrose, we are extremely lucky to be able to come to a wonderful place every weekday. We are greeted at the door with a warm smile, and all the teachers are there to support you every step of the way. Not every human out there has that. Because we have a good life, we need to start showing gratitude to those who need it, and we need to start paying forward our good fortune.
By Sarah Tea ‘30, Staff Writer
30stea@montroseschool.org
