The Grass Is Always Greener On The Other Side

Thanksgiving is a time for getting together with family members and diving deep into turkey, gravy and pie. Most people look forward to this glorious holiday where they can stuff themselves silly and be as gluttonous as they please. Some, on the other hand, dread going to their relative’s house because that entails talking to family members they have not seen since last year.

There is always one relative that wants to ask a million questions about what is going on in your life. ‘How’s school/work’, ‘Do you have a significant other?’, ‘Have you figured out what you want to do with your life?’ and the list goes on and on.

When I was younger I can remember all my older cousins being hounded with these questions. Luckily for me as I have aged, my parents have done away with going to grandma’s on Thanksgiving and starting our own tradition, heading somewhere warm.

I have been able to dodge the millions of questions I am sure my extended family has for me and that makes me even more thankful every time Thanksgiving rolls around. As for my cousins who are stuck at grandma’s my thoughts are with you and I hope you can make it alive through this holiday season.

I truly enjoy being able to spend time with my immediately family and soak in the sunshine wherever we end up for that Thanksgiving. There is something more personal and intimate about spending time with just my mother, father and sister on Thanksgiving.

As I think about the tradition my parents have started a questions always pops into my head, ‘How many people would choose to travel somewhere rather than spend Thanksgiving with their entire family?’

Yes I understand that may sound harsh or completely anti-Thanksgiving considering the whole point of the holiday is to be with family and give thanks. But the question still occasionally pops into my head here and there.

I mean if people had the choice and there would be no consequences, no calls from relatives making them feel guilty about their absences; would they genuinely choose to be with their family or would they choose to travel somewhere new?

So I challenge you this holiday season to sit back, take in and really think ‘Would I rather be somewhere else?’ This might lead you to start your own traditions or just the opposite. It just might make sure you truly appreciate the time you spend with the ones who love you.