5 Things To Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving

At a time when everything moves through fast and unprecedented times, a moment of gratitude is needed to fill the gap left by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Almost everyone felt stressed and frightened due to the health crisis when 2020 started, but that doesn't mean we should disregard the fact that even the darkest clouds have silver linings. And despite the challenging background of the pandemic, there are still a lot of things that we should be grateful for. 

Here are the 5 things that we think you should be appreciative of this Thanksgiving. 

1. SAFETY 

We started this year under a rough patch, fueled by fear brought by lockdowns after lockdowns. Almost all the places around the world lost a secure sense of safety due to the pandemic and other calamities, but we were able to adapt and we continue to do so. 

So, if you feel safe now at home right now, with a roof above your head, a warm bed to sleep on, and comfy clothes to wear, then you should be thankful. Also, not all have the opportunity to go shopping at the mall, spend leisure time outside, and interact easily with other people in the community, so don't take that chance for granted. 

2. HEALTHY WELLBEING 

As the saying goes, "Health is wealth." If you were able to spend most of the year in good physical and mental condition, then that's another thing to be appreciative of.

We should all take a moment to feel thankful for the healthy skin, strong immune system, and euphoric mind and body. After all, being grateful for our health also means showing gratitude for being alive. 

3. LOVING FAMILY & STRONG FRIENDSHIPS

While some experienced setbacks being stuck at home, others took advantage of the current situation to spend more time with their families. 

Before the pandemic, everyone was preoccupied with the daily routines that they forgot to even share a meal with their loved ones, but when the world stopped for a moment, they viewed the pandemic as a window of opportunity to strengthen family ties. 

If you have your brothers, sisters, and parents with you, be thankful for them. Their mere existence allows us to get through the challenging times of being in isolation. And if you live miles away from your nearest relative, you should also be thankful for them for keeping you strong through digital means despite the distance. 

The same thing could be said to your friends. Loyal friendships get us through the hard and good times. A good laugh shared on Zoom undeniably keeps the boredom away, so take this chance to reach out to your friends and say thanks. 

4. TECHNOLOGY & THE INTERNET

We can only imagine how hard it is to get through a pandemic without the use of gadgets and the merits of the Internet. 

Social media pages, like Facebook and Youtube, streaming and gaming apps, teleconferencing sites have allowed us to make use of our free time. We are able to let out a laugh when we needed it the most, connect with loved ones, work from home, continue online learning, and learn new hobbies through technological advancement. 

Without Netflix, Facebook, or Zoom, everything would be so much harder, so take a moment to recognize the positive impact of technology.

5. FRONT LINERS

Most of all, let us thank the front liners. 

Doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, teachers, transit drivers, delivery people, grocery store staff, factory laborers, and other essential workers—these are the people who heroically risk their health every day just to make our lives easier. Their immense contribution nowadays needs no explanation to be recognized. 

We urge everyone to take this time to show appreciation for their service. 

More often than not, people get caught up in the things that they want and overlook the value of the little things they already have. This Thanksgiving, Cottonique hopes you will not forget to think on the brighter side of things this year. 

May you realize that if you just take things slow and think through everything you have, there are a ton of things to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!