Thanksgiving Holidays
by Kellie Strausser

In an age of celebrity romances, the latest computer technology and new fast food chains popping up each and every day, it is hard to see through the bright neon lights flashing everywhere around us. November is Thanksgiving time again, but even this day can not get away from the media blitz bombarding it.

I am getting the strong feeling that the human race in general has become almost zombie like in our way of thinking and feeling, or lack there of. We eat what they tell us to eat, we celebrate the way they tell us to celebrate, we buy what they say to buy, we act the way they want us to act. The media tidal wave that smacks us in the face over and over again is hard to get away from, and it knocks us off our feet in our ability to think for ourselves every minute of every day.

I guess it makes me wonder, if we had no TV, or radio, or celebrities, would we feel so compelled to live and be a certain way? Would we break our bank accounts with gifts we couldn't afford over the holidays? Why are we living in this financial and emotional cycle of doom? I am like any other person in this whirlwind, but I don't want to be. It is so hard to even try to think about how you would really want it to be, because we are so brainwashed from birth. Here it goes, I'll give it a try.

Thanksgiving is the day I will concentrate on, because if I tried to do any more than that, it would be overwhelming. We have this holiday for a reason, everyone knows the history....but what if this day was used for something other than eating (which is what it has become known for to most people)? Granted, I love to eat, but what if this day was used to search out people in need and give them the cash you would have spent on your Thanksgiving meal. I am not saying there are people who do not do this. There are many people who give on this day. Wouldn't it be nice though, if this is what the day was supposed to be used for instead of a sit down meal? Thanks-GIVING. Giving old clothes, food, your time, your talents to anyone and everyone who is needing them. Spending the day with the sick and the old, the emotionally drained, the hungry, and the poor. If we made this our mission, one day per year, it might spill over into other days, and grow and spread until even the hardest person to reach was touched. If you have seen the movie "Pay it forward", I think you get the picture.

I have high hopes at times, and I don't do everything I want to do. This Thanksgiving though, I am going to try. I want to make a difference. I feel so selfish eating my turkey and mashed potatoes when there are people starving in this country and others. It is lovely to have a special meal with your family, and I am not condemning it one bit. Every so often though, it would feel good to be different. Maybe to do something different in the way of giving every other year at Holiday time would be a start. I'm going to start this year.