Getting Into the Thanksgiving Spirit

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For quite a while, I envisioned Thanksgiving as that day sandwiched in between my two favorite holidays. Since I was a kid, Halloween and Christmas were at the top of my love list. Both holidays always inspired the dreamer in me; I celebrated fantasy and enchantment during Halloween, and enjoyed the warm feeling that Christmas created in everyone I knew. Those were my go-to, feel-good holidays. Thanksgiving was mostly the time I was teased by my cousins, and answered way too many questions about my grades/love life/future life goals. Thanksgiving was a chore. That is, until my first thanksgiving with my in-laws.

I love my in-laws. I mean, I really love them. Some say they do just because it’s a nice thing to say, while others would never say it since they may be dealing with strife and complicated relationships. I lucked out with my husband’s family. They are warm, kind-hearted, intelligent, and hilarious people. I anticipated my first Thanksgiving with them to be stressful, very similar to the Thanksgivings I’d experienced with my own family. That was not the case. I laughed. Really, really laughed. They were intrigued with all that I’ve done in my life at that point, and each and every one of them really listened to what I had to say. I noticed that I had a feeling of belonging. I felt like family, and they had no issues treating me as such.

Since that wonderful day, we’ve enjoyed many Thanksgivings together. That one special day helped me to discover the Thanksgiving spirit, the spirit of the season. Thanksgiving is about being grateful, but it’s also about celebrating family. So, I’m thankful for the family I chose to become a part of, almost 10 years ago. I’m thankful for the blessing they are in my life.

Check out even more stories that celebrate the spirit of the season:

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