Thanksgiving is just around the corner, where you get the chance to gather together with friends and families to enjoy a delicious meal and each other’s company. But, have you ever dealt with a tough situation during the holiday season, where you just couldn’t find one thing to be happy or thankful for? Or have you ever wondered how people cope with difficult times during the holidays?
As teenagers, we all have to deal with the trouble of growing up and gaining more and more responsibility. As the amount of responsibility grows, so does the stress. For many people, worry consumes the mind, causing lack of sleep and an increase of tension and anxiety. As time goes on, people may start to lose the happiness and enjoyment of life.
As Thanksgiving approaches, people may find it hard to think of ways to be happy. Stress often ruins the moment. School and work can be so overwhelming that many people forget to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Family, friends, and of course food, are known to help people deal with stress. People often forget the true meaning of the holiday when they are so consumed with their thoughts and concerns. According to Stacie Park (‘13), “the true meaning of Thanksgiving is to be thankful for the little things in life and to be with family.” The key to enjoying your Thanksgiving holiday, is to simply forget about the responsibility of your everyday life. But that is easier said than done.
Although it is difficult to prevent worrying, it can be done. Maddie Gerig (‘13) says, “To deal with stress, I usually go for a walk to collect my thoughts.” It is also helpful when you have someone by your side to relate with and talk to about your problems. Thanksgiving also provides a few days off of work and school to give you the free time and relaxation you may desperately need. Thanksgiving is a time for you to be thankful for everything in life-the big and the small things.
Difficult changes in life can also cause people to forget how to be thankful. Christine Stutzman, the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Bethany, has had to deal with tough situations recently. Her husband has undergone health scares that have shaken her world entirely. Although he is okay and healthy now, it is still terrifying for her to think about. She has had to learn ways to overcome the fear of bad health. She exclaims, “After this has happened, I am just so thankful for God and the faith I have in Him.” She shares that she knows God is always by her side, and that with Him, she has nothing to worry about.
~Liz DeLeeuw