Thanksgiving gratitude: four ways to express thanks

Between putting together the meal, finalizing the guest list and preparing the decorations, it can be easy to forget the real meaning of Thanksgiving. At its core, the holiday is all about expressing gratitude and showing loved ones how thankful we are to have them in our lives. Here are four ways that you and your family can stay true to the spirit of Thanksgiving this year.

1. Gratitude go around. Before beginning the Thanksgiving meal, go around the table and ask each guest to share what they’re grateful for. Consider encouraging guests to think about what they’re going to say before sitting down to eat. This way, they can have time to put more thought into what they’d like to share.

2. Letters of thanks. Take the time to write messages to the people in your life that you value the most, especially those who you don’t see often. Additionally, as an activity during your Thanksgiving get-together, you can ask dinner guests to write notes expressing their appreciation for each other.

3. Volunteer or donate. This Thanksgiving, consider volunteering at a local charity or donating to a good cause. Helping others is one of the best ways to express gratitude for all the blessings in your life.

4. Include new guests. If you know people in your community who don’t have anywhere to go on Thanksgiving, think about inviting them to join your celebration. The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for those who don’t have family nearby and including new guests can make the festivities even more meaningful.