Tips For Practicing Gratitude This Thanksgiving Season
The holiday season is here, but before we fully commit to Christmastime, we should not skip over Thanksgiving. While we have a whole week off to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, not every student has a chance to go home. Or maybe, before heading home, you and your friends want to take some time to celebrate together. Wherever you plan to celebrate from, here are a few ideas to help make your Thanksgiving special.
Make a list of what you are thankful for
The old hymn “Count Your Blessings” reminds us to “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” This is a very simple concept, but it is an effective way to reflect on the blessings God has provided. Writing those blessings down will open your eyes to the gifts and tools the Lord has given you. This important act of reflection will help you focus on God’s work in your life and may even help you consider ways you can share your blessings with those in need.
Shop on Black Friday and Cyber Monday
If there’s a group of people who love good deals and great discounts, it’s college students. Luckily for us, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are around the same time as Thanksgiving. Black Friday is Nov. 29, and Cyber Monday is Dec. 2. Students can take advantage of these deals to reward themselves for all the academic trauma they have endured this semester, get their Christmas shopping out the way or stock up on new technology for school like a laptop or iPad.
Watch a parade
One of the easiest ways for college students to kick off Thanksgiving Day is by tuning in to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Since 1924, the annual parade in New York City has brought beautiful floats, live performances and towering balloons into homes across America. For many, watching the parade is an exciting way to settle into the holiday spirit. The 98th parade will stream on Peacock and air live on NBC from 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 28. The parade is an exciting start to Thanksgiving Day, so gather a few loved ones and settle into a cozy spot to let the festivities unfold.
Run a Turkey Trot
Looking to earn those Thanksgiving calories? Turkey Trots are footraces of various lengths in which runners can choose to dress as turkeys. These races are created for some pre-Thanksgiving fun, and many also raise funds for local charity benefits. The Lynchburg Turkey Trot will support the charity HumanKind and start Nov. 28 at 8 a.m. on Langhorne Road. For more information on participating or volunteering, visit https://www.humankind.org/lynchburg-turkey-trot/.
Host a Friendsgiving
This is one of my personal favorites on the list. Before students go back home for the week to celebrate the fall holiday with their families, they can celebrate together as friends. Students can enjoy Thanksgiving a week earlier with their halls or other friends and meet at someone’s house for a potluck Thanksgiving. The more friends you invite, the more food you wind up with, as everyone brings something to share. It’s a night for friends to gather for a great meal, lots of fun, prayer and reflection.
Morineau is a lifestyle reporter for the Liberty Champion.