Before Thanksgiving every year, I like to reflect on who and what I am thankful for. My usual response is my family, my friends, the things that I have, etc. However, this year, it wasn't until after Thanksgiving, that I truly felt thankful. I got to spend time a lot of time with both my family and friends. I could appreciate our traditions—getting up early on Thanksgiving and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, helping my mom set up the tables with decorations and name cards, playing games with my aunts and cousins, eating everything pumpkin, and enjoying the conversations with my grandparents. I felt so thankful for those memories and that I have those people in my life. Holidays aren't special unless you have people whom you care about to celebrate with.

While holidays are usually times to reflect on what and who you are thankful for, I believe we should stop and reflect every day. We should give thanks. We should treasure each and every moment we have with our family and friends. What you are thankful for changes every day. You may have been thankful to spend time with a friend who hadn't seen in a while, yesterday, but today you may be thankful for having the time to sleep in.

You should be thankful not just because it's Thanksgiving. That's only one day out of the year to be thankful. You should be thankful each of the 365 days in a year. It wasn't until after Thanksgiving that my reflection actually meant something to me. I hope after reading this article you will give thanks. Not just during the holidays but every day.