Ok, so I have a serious question for you peeps (this might not apply to everyone)- Why, right after Halloween is over, do you go straight to Christmas? I'm seriously curious too, because it doesn't make any sense to me. Is it the fact that you get to receive presents? Are you just excited for it to be winter and the different activities that brings? Did something happen on or around Thanksgiving that makes you not want to acknowledge it? Do you just like the music and/or decorations that go along with Christmastime? Why is the allure so strong that you completely skip over Thanksgiving and basically the whole month that goes with it?

Christmas can be, from what I've seen and experienced first hand, a very stressful time of the year, so why would you want to hurry and start feeling the stress of it? And you can't tell me that it's not a stressful time, I've worked in retail, I know what people/families look like during what's supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." And I'm not saying that I don't enjoy Christmas, because I do, but I also enjoy Thanksgiving just as much.

Even though I really enjoy Thanksgiving, this Thanksgiving will be a different experience for my family and I this year, because it'll be our first one without my one aunt. Does that mean we aren't going to celebrate it...no. We are still going to celebrate Thanksgiving because if we didn't celebrate it then we would have to stop celebrating every holiday, that way we wouldn't have to worry about having those "first _____________" without her. Instead, we will still have Thanksgiving and even though it will be sad and awkward at first, I'm sure that we'll end up sharing stories about how much fun she could be, funny things she used to say and how she was when she was growing up. And yes, there will most likely be tears and hugs shared, but that's ok because we'll be together (and we'll get to eat some yummy food too.)

Speaking of food, that's one of my favorite parts and I can't believe that people would want to skip out on it! Turkey, homemade mashed potatoes (my grandfather makes them the best and if you don't agree, I'll fight you...just kidding), gravy (to go on/with...well...everything), sweet potato casserole (shoutout to my mom), cranberry sauce, stuffing, rolls and of course...PIE (pumpkin, apple, pecan...just pie in general...don't question the pie). Plus, you can eat however much you want, fall asleep, wake up, eat again and not be judged by anyone because everyone else is doing the exact same thing.

The main idea of this article can kind of be tied in to my last article of not taking things for granted. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and be thankful for everything that you have. A time to put aside the worries and stressors of the world and just be with friends/family and enjoy life. A time to share stories, get closer with others and maybe build new bonds with new friends you've made. If you're thinking, "Well I don't really have any family around me to spend Thanksgiving with," then why not have a Friendsgiving...yes, that is a thing that people actually do and I support it 100%!

If there is some other issue that you have with Thanksgiving that I didn't list, then what about just enjoying the month of November? What about just enjoying the fall scenery and activities? What about just enjoying the moment and taking everything in before the craziness and stress of Christmas comes? This world is constantly go, go, go...don't get caught up in that. Slow down, it's ok to slow down and actually enjoy life every once in a while.

Alright lovelies, sorry for the rambling, I'm done now. Anywho, I hope you liked it and maybe it got you thinking a little bit.

Until next time XX