Thanksgiving was yesterday. I unlike many college students did not go home. Christmas break is only 3 weeks away, so it was not worth the airfare to go home for less than four days; besides, my family does not even celebrate Thanksgiving. Instead I celebrated Thanksgiving with other members of the Bryn Mawr community. It was fantastic to have a home-cooked meal after so many weeks of dinning hall food !
In America, Thanksgiving begins the holiday season. Christmas songs begin to appear, Santa hats are resurrected out of dusty boxes, Christmas lights and trees are erected . . . the list goes on, but the holiday season is also about giving. I recently did a French debate about whether or not we are more civilized now or before. I believe we are less civilized, especially because we have become less giving. Wat ever happened to giving time and money to help those less fortunate ? Have we forgotten that in an instant we could be those at the bottom of the pecking order without a place to stay ? Our current "social status" is never permanent, it ebbs and flows over time. Nothing lasts forever, do not believe that it will because you will be disappointed.
In these harsh economic times, there are more and more people struggling to make it through the holiday season, so find a warm spot in your heart to think of them. Think of those who are fighting for our freedom away from their families in other countries, think of those who have no where to go when the snow starts to fall, think of those who must decide whether to buy their children gifts for Christmas or pay the heating bill, there are so many more examples because the hardships go on. Think of others this holiday season : send a letter to a member of our military, donate your time to a non-profit organization, buy a gift for a child you do not know, there are so many ways to help those in need.
Even the little things go a long way in the spirit of the holidays !
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