Adji Ngathe kebe
Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favorite American Holidays to celebrate. Despite the history and the inaccuracies when it comes to depictions of Thanksgiving—I love the idea of it. I love taking time out of the year to gather with loved ones. I’m a foodie and anytime there’s an opportunity to indulge in food—I’m down.
This Thanksgiving was particularly different this year because there’s so much to be thankful for. And not that I’m ungrateful for other times in my life, but I’m currently at a state in my life I enjoy. I’m nowhere near where I want to be, but I’m working hard and it’s getting me there little by little. I have immense gratitude for my life and the ways it’s unfolding. I also see the lives of my friends and family members. I see the different ways their lives are unfolding as well.
Sometimes when we gather around and we recap on everything we’ve done, it’s easy to feel as if you haven’t done enough. I also feel as if anytime we are around friends and mostly family in my case, there’s an expectation to always have an answer for “what are you doing?”
More than ever, I feel greater pressure to be more on top of things. To already be on a list somewhere and getting major accolades for one thing or another. Or perhaps, it’s an expectation I put on myself as I know it’s expected of me. However, the Thanksgiving dinner I had with friends last night reminded me of all the ways I can afford to take my time.
Just like me, my friends are in their early to late 20s. Our lives are constantly shifting and it’s alright. It’s supposed to. When I’m around them, I’m reminded the little progress we make everyday is much more important then the huge achievements we can brag about. To a certain extent, I can push back on certain expectations set for me by others.
Sometimes we look at other people’s lives and we use their current realities to compare to ours. Too often we’re encouraged to remain dissatisfied with our lives. We need to be constantly grinding and constantly in pursue of something greater. Even as a teacher, I sense certain people in my life waiting for me to do something “bigger.” It’s not the most glamorous, but It’s fulfilling in so many ways. I’ve genuinely found a passion, which allows me to delve deeply into my mind. I’m also responsible for people. I love that responsibility. I love being responsible for tiny humans. It forces me to be the best version of myself as they need me to be at my best.
I realized, we’re all blessed, but in different capacities. To a certain extent it may seem as if others are more blessed than us, but there are ways we are more blessed as well. Social media, predominantly Instagram, has a very interesting affect on us. We’re unable to see our own progress and compare our lives only to ourselves. We end up focusing on the ways others are thriving and achieving. We neglect to recognize our own blessings because we’re constantly thinking about others and how they are fairing in life at the moment. We’re always looking at the bigger and better things others are doing or have bought. We can look to others for inspiration, but it becomes a problem when we feel as if ‘why them and not me?’ Or other complex emotions that don’t allow us to see all the ways we re blessed.
I’m learning there’s so much capacity and difference in the ways we experience life. I’m Thankful for the ability to reject certain things. It feels as if cobwebs have been cleaned out of my lungs and I can breathe better and deeper. I’m thankful for my family and friends. I’m thankful for all the love in my life. I’m thankful for maturing and discovering new things about myself such as what it is I truly desire for my life. I’m thankful for all the trips this year and to come. I’m thankful for all the adventures too. I’m blessed. Alhamdullilah. So are you.
