The savory smell of Thanksgiving turkey illuminates the household, the gossip between cousins, aunts and uncles take their mark, and the dining room table is decorated with sterling silver silverware and fine china that is only used once a year on this day. This is Thanksgiving.

For me, this is how I grew up. Every November, my extended family would come into town to feast over a delicious dinner made by mom and pop and we would say Grace which was quickly followed by what we were thankful for.

But as the years went on, the day of being thankful, turned into this day of 'slaving all day in the kitchen', 'dealing with relatives', and 'wasting food'.

We went from turkey, to turducken, and on to steak. We started off flying in relatives from other states and cities, to now, just being with the immediate family.

This year, we are not even staying in the States.

This is the thing. I am an American and I am so very fortunate to have the liberty that we do, but why can't we be thankful everyday? Why do we only make time for relatives one day on the year?

Now, my family views this holiday as a time to get away from work, friends, and school and come together and celebrate the positive things in our life, but mostly to spend time together.

With all the stresses and events the life brings to us, it's important to value the poeple who gave you all those things. My parents are the reason why I am in school, why I am studying what I love, why I studied abroad, and why I can live life without fear of not finding food or a place to stay.

I am so fortunate and thankful for them, and I don't think sitting at a table eating is the best way to express that love.

Memories will be the things you will remember most about a person, not what you ate for Thanksgiving two years ago.

This is why I live almost everyday like a Thanksgiving, and I hope you do too.