What Thanksgiving means to me

Thanksgiving was my favorite time of year growing up, and in many ways, it still is. Of course, some of that magic has disappeared as I get older, but the meaning remains the same. For me, Thanksgiving at its core is about family and spending time together. Unfortunately, as the years have passed, I have lost much of my family due to cancer or other ailments.

As we all get older, our friends can sometimes become more like our family when our own is missing. As a result, we feel the pains of those missing family members more during this time of year. Therefore, it is essential to show grace daily, but a little more during the holiday season.

We all felt the effects of the pandemic in the last couple of years. I was working in retail and saw firsthand how people treated workers. Thanksgiving and Christmas were the hardest because of the pandemic. A lot of individuals were kind to retail workers, but there were plenty that made our job harder. My mental health and that of many others were significantly affected during that time. Employees are in constant burnout due to the high demand for hours. However, we all could learn by treating one another better. Therefore, that is essential to remember this time of year.

We all could use a little cheering up. Whether it's inviting someone over (even if they say no) or making someone feel appreciated could make all the difference.

Living in a much smaller community as I have gotten older is something I appreciate more. The military had a similar feel. One year, I had 25 people that could not go home for the holidays packed into my living room. People who couldn't afford the flight home or had nowhere to go were always welcomed. Some people randomly showed up, but we always had a plate ready.

Thanksgiving is a time for thanks, but the meaning will always be more than that for me. We should be kinder to one another during what many people see as the most challenging time of the year. Remind yourselves of that magic of the holidays you felt when you were younger and try to capture that as we age. Look at the world with a little more positivity rather than anger, be humble and remember those who are no longer here.

- Ashley Parkinson covers Odessa and Harrington for the Lincoln County Record-Times. She can be reached at 509-982-2632.