What Gratitude Looks Like in 2020

Image by Annie Spratt

For many of us, Thanksgiving will look different this year.

Most of my Thanksgiving memories are set in that house. One year, we all did the Mannequin Challenge. Another year, my sister ate so much turkey that she threw up. Last year, we went around the table with fun facts (for the first time) and got to know each other better. And every year, I regret eating so much dinner when I see the barrage of desserts come out. I stuff myself with pie anyway.

This will be the first year without that.

I’m glad that I can at least travel home for Thanksgiving with my immediate family. I’ll be eating in a separate room, but I’ll take what I can get.

We can take these obstacles and grow from them.

This year, with all its brand new challenges, has given me another chance to expand my mind. I feel so thankful that I don’t have to suffer the way some have to suffer. I’m a healthy young woman with the ability to work from home. I still have my friends and family with me, even if we’re far away.

For those of us with lots to celebrate, let’s do so safely. It’s respectful not only to those who aren’t so fortunate but also to ourselves and our loved ones. While we all wish we could greet each other with a hug, physical contact is not the only way to show affection. Keeping each other safe and healthy is the greatest demonstration of love.

It’s okay to not feel grateful.

The following advice isn’t coming from an expert but a fellow human. I’m not a mental health professional and I don’t know what it’s like to be one of the people who has been affected so severely by the pandemic. But I do know what it’s like to be kicked when I’m down. I know that when I’m in the midst of an emotional episode, being told to be grateful only makes me feel worse. When I’m depressed, I can’t even get up. Being unable to do something as “easy” as feeling gratitude feels awful.

So be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to feel the way you do. If you’re too heartbroken to allow gratefulness in, it’s okay. Don’t feel pressured to make the most of this Thanksgiving and step away from social media if it’s taking a toll on you. Your feelings are valid. Just get through in whatever way you can.

Originally published at https://kaylynyee.com on November 25, 2020.

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Writer, travel enthusiast, and human being (not in that order). I help people succeed with engaging, relatable articles about travel and wellness.

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Kaylyn Yee

Writer, travel enthusiast, and human being (not in that order). I help people succeed with engaging, relatable articles about travel and wellness.