by The Cowl Editor on November 18, 2021
Editor's Column
Next Thursday, instead of picking up their copies of The Cowl fresh off the press, Providence College students will be picking up forks to eat turkey and pumpkin pie fresh out of the oven.
Thanksgiving is the one day of the year that we are given time for the explicit purpose of meditating on our relationships to the people and things in our life. During the semester, we are often too busy to take stock of all we are grateful for. As much as we may want to show our appreciation for our friends, professors, and family, we may not have the time, money, or mental capacity to do so.
When we go home for Thanksgiving, then, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to express our gratitude for those people and things who have positively impacted us. Whether we do this at the dining room table with our families, in a journal, or through meditative exercises, Thanksgiving Day is typically spent listing our blessings. Often, however, we forget to thank one of the most important people in our lives: ourselves.
It has been no easy feat getting through the COVID-19 pandemic and readjusting to life as “normal.” Be grateful to yourself for having made it this far. Whether you coasted along or barely made it across the finish line, you made it, and you deserve to celebrate that. No one is expecting you to be working two jobs or to already have your future figured out; getting out of bed in the morning is an accomplishment.
Aisha Beau, a self-care blogger, insists that even though the practice may be awkward, “reflecting on what you’ve accomplished and how wonderful you are should become as common as an inhale, and exhale.” Self-gratitude can be one of the best forms of self-care. Take time for yourself on Thanksgiving, away from your obligations and work.
We often feel that what we are doing at school or in our relationships is not enough. However, you are definitely doing better than you think. Remind yourself on Thanksgiving that you are doing what you can, no matter how insignificant it may feel. This year, make sure to express gratitude for yourself and all of the incredible things you have to offer.