It's that time of year again. The temperature has dropped, the leaves have turned to dazzling shades of color, the reintroduction of pumpkin and cinnamon is back, and people finally remember to be thankful. You guessed it, Thanksgiving is here and that means the joy of the fall season is at its maximum. This holiday is one that really brings families together and hopefully makes people think about their blessings.

I don’t know about you, but I love the celebration process of Thanksgiving. All the family comes up and we get to relax. The cooking excitement begins, so there are constant new flavors to experience. The day, at least for me, consists of many laughs and great quality time with the people I love. But what if you are one of those people who dread Thanksgiving? Maybe you hate the idea of certain family members visiting, you might have to work, or there is something else that prevents you from enjoying this holiday.

Here is what I think; this day only comes once a year, which means that even if there are things keeping you from being happy during the holiday, you should try and be positive. Yes, some family is hard to get along with, but why? Is it because you anticipated an uncomfortable interaction and expect that things won’t go well? Maybe by you trying to remain optimistic it will affect the people around you and make for a pleasant environment. It starts with one person, you could be the one to start a chain reaction of everyone getting along.

You might be the one having to do the cooking, which means this holiday is so stressful to you that you don’t even find joy in it. But in the middle of your hard preparation, think about when you are done and the satisfaction you will be bringing to people. You are the chef, which means you create the masterpieces that you will be remembered for. And it’s not like cooking lasts forever, when you are done, treat yourself significantly and eat up! Try to think of the end goal, which is a table full of beautiful delicious food that you get the credit for creating.

Maybe you have to be at your job the night before or on the day of Thanksgiving and it really puts you down in the dumps. It won’t last forever. Think of coming home to your family and getting to relax, not to mention getting to eat amazing food. When you go to work, you could even try and spread some cheer. Wish people to have a happy Thanksgiving, give out warming smiles, and force your brain to be happy. If you are thinking positively at your job, it will help you get through it faster and uplift your spirits for when you get to go home. You have the choice to not let your work take away the delight of Thanksgiving.

Many of you might be housing a lot of people for Thanksgiving, so you have cleaning, preparing, and decorating to do. When you think about all the things you must do to get ready for people staying, it probably makes you anxious. You might even be at the place where you can’t wait for the holiday to be over. Don’t wish it away, you’ll regret wasting your time by wanting it to end. Think about how much your family or friends will appreciate your nice house and festive decorations, which are things to be proud of. So in the midst of much cleaning and straightening up, remember how great it will feel when you are done and your house looks stunning.

Even though this holiday is meant to remind people to be appreciative, why are we only grateful on Thanksgiving? Why aren’t we always thankful no matter what day of the year it is? Though we all face struggles and hard times in life, the situation could always be worse. Think about those who don't have a family to celebrate the holiday with or who don't have food to eat and a house to embellish. It takes great strength to give thanks in the midst of trying circumstances. Think of your blessings and remember to be thankful for what you have, for the people around you, for the life you live, because no one else walks the same path as you.