FEATURE
Giving thanks A personal journey on the significance of thankfulness By Lizzie Hoscheit common Thanksgiving tradition for families is to sit around the dinner table and say what they’re thankful for. For some this may be a more difficult task this year than in years past, for 2021 has been another tough year for all of us. Between fighting the waves of the pandemic, wildfires, civil unrest, global warming and the loss of loved ones along the way, we’ve had plenty to worry about. Every step forward has come with two steps back and we’ve continued to find ourselves not sure where to turn. This difficult time has made a lasting impact on each of us; however we’re still here, moving forward, no matter how unsure the footing is, every day. While we’re so easily able to recognize and point out all of the bad, something I have been striving to do is try to recognize the good that has come from it. There’s not a single person who hasn’t faced some struggle these last two years, meaning we’ve all grown, learned how to adapt and never take the small things for granted. Prior to this, getting groceries used to be a chore and now it’s like a mini-vacation. Life prepandemic was on a fast track with no intention of slowing down. Everything was getting quicker and quicker and suddenly someone hit pause, and no one knew what to do with the
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newfound free time. This was something I hadn’t experienced since summer vacations in high school. I’d forgotten what I used to do in my downtime because prior to quarantine, downtime didn’t seem to exist anymore. Suddenly, I was able to finish that book I had bookmarked months ago, I learned how to crochet (not well but it still counts), I learned new recipes and rode a bike for the first time in years. I worried constantly but also was able to make new friends. I watched the positive cases rise and now have an extensive collection of masks, but I also was able to go on longer walks and was thankful for every deep breath. I learned not only about myself, but about the people in my life. I learned that my husband, who I’ve been in a committed relationship with for 11 years, appallingly is not a fan of ice cream. My relationship with my sister grew and became stronger even though we’re on opposite sides of the country. I had time to check in with friends I hadn’t seen since high school, and the chance to flip through all of my old yearbooks and reminisce. I learned that no matter how many times I try to make queso it’s never as good as at a restaurant, and that cross stitch isn’t for me. Continued on next page.
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