Thanksgiving 2024.

Each and every year, I look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving. It is a time for food, family, fun, and—above all—love.

 Thanksgiving this time around was even better than I had thought it would be. Multiple family members who I don’t get to see every day were in town, the food was delicious, and we even fit in an entertaining game of Jenga in the afternoon on the 28th.

 I have so much to be thankful for, but if I had to distill all this down to one word, it would of course be love. I love my family, I love my friends, I love my animals, and I love myself.

 My late grandmother, Marguerite, always enjoyed Thanksgiving, and not a year goes by without me thinking of her. For her, family always went first, and I try to emulate that attitude in all that I do, and especially on this hallowed day.

 Thanksgiving this year was most definitely over the top. My contribution to the culinary festivities was to make my favorite vegan shredded tofu dish, which went over very well. My mom made vegan mashed potatoes, which were the best I had ever tasted. My dad barbequed his famous salmon, and my sister and her girlfriend made soybeans and Brussels sprouts, respectively. To top it all off, the day after Thanksgiving, I had lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant with my aunt, uncle, parents, and paternal grandmother.

 My very favorite musical artist is Lady Gaga, and my very favorite song is one of hers titled “You And I.” This piece, in my humble opinion, is the best love song ever written. A few years ago, while on YouTube, I discovered that she had posted a video of herself performing this very special song on Thanksgiving day. How perfect that a song about love becomes one with a holiday that is designed to be spent with loved ones. After all, what is Thanksgiving but an elaborate love song to those who matter most?

 In order to love others, one must first learn to love oneself. During this last year, I feel that I have truly come into my own. I have a new leadership position with Toastmasters, a thirty-chapter future book all outlined, a medal from my first 10K, and the unwavering and unconditional support of those in my life who are near and dear to my heart.

 I expect next Thanksgiving to be even more monumental than this one. Something good can always be made better, and when it comes to me and my friends and family, the sky is the limit. The one regret that I have for this year is that I forgot to ask someone to take pictures of all of us during the festivities. However, in place of that, you have this piece. If you have made it this far, I just want to thank you. In reading it, you have unwittingly become a part of what has made Thanksgiving so special for me this time around.