A Season of Gratitude

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, because it revolves around my two favorite things: food and gratitude.

I love Thanksgiving food; buttery mashed potatoes and piles of stuffing, thick gravy poured over turkey that has been simmering in the oven for hours, tart cranberry sauce and homemade apple pie topped with vanilla bean ice cream. I can't get enough of it!

Then, the left overs. Oh baby, it's apple pie for breakfast, turkey sandwiches loaded with mashed potatoes and stuffing for lunch and another thanksgiving meal serving at dinner. The next day it repeats all over again! One of the most underrated things about the holidays is the leftovers; amazing food that you don't have to cook, just pop it in the microwave and you're set.

The other thing about Thanksgiving I love, is the focus on gratitude. So many holidays we celebrate have become commercialized. Thanksgiving is about coming around the table with family, eating good food and offering thanks. Oh and maybe football...

Thanksgiving is a huge reminder to me how blessed I am. I have a roof over my head and a refrigerator full of food. I have a sweet boyfriend and a family who loves me. It also pushes me to remind those I love how grateful I am for them.

This Thanksgiving I encourage you to remind all those you love how much they mean to you, and how thankful you are to have them in your life.

Ways to show your thanks to those you love:

1. Write them a note reminding them how much you care

2. Make some special baked goods for them or with them

3. Shoot a text to a friend you haven't seen in awhile, but still think of

4. Draw a card

5. Spend extra quality time with them

This time of year also reminds me to think of those who are less fortunate than me. Maybe they don't have family in the area and eat along on Thanksgiving. I always offer an invite to friends and coworkers to my family dinner, just in case they need somewhere to go.

I also try to think of those who don't have the means to buy a whole Thanksgiving meal. There are so many organizations to help out this holiday season:

• Danvers People to People Food Pantry

• NH Food Bank

• Greater Boston Food Bank

• Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc.

I hope you enjoy this holiday season with those you love! Eat, drink and be merry! Cheers to the comida vibes of the season :)