With the Christmas season in full swing and Black Friday just next week, it is time to get into the holiday spirit. Yes, it is time to start prepping full force for Christmas and totally disregard one of the most meaningful holidays celebrated.

Or should I say most underappreciated. I am talking about Thanksgiving. Now do not get me wrong, I love Christmas. I love spending time with friends and family, putting up decorations, eating cookies and even watching Hallmark movies with my girlfriend.

But what upsets me, however, is that once Halloween ends all I see in stores and on television is CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS, CHRISTMAS.

It seems as if Christmas is getting closer and closer, and the sooner it comes the less meaningful it gets. It is like we have been celebrating Christmas for three whole months.

With that in mind, I also cannot stand seeing Black Friday as the “new holiday.” I mean, Black Friday starting Wednesday is too much.

Look, I like some of the deals Best Buy and other stores offer. I am even looking into buying a new camera, but forcing store employees to work all during Thanksgiving night and Wednesday is ridiculous. That is taking time away from their families and friends just so stores can compete with each other.

Thanksgiving may not be your favorite holiday, or it may even seem like there is no reason to celebrate it. To me, Thanksgiving is not about the turkey, the parade or the football games. And trust me, I do love all that, especially the eating.

Overall, Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have and what you have been through to be where you are today. Looking back, I can honestly say I am a better person than I was before. Even in a year, I have changed for the better. I have met new people including my girlfriend, I have experienced new challenges and achieved goals I set for myself.

Everyone is different, so Thanksgiving may be different for you. Or you may not have anything to be thankful in the situation you may be in.

Last year around Thanksgiving, my grandmother passed away. It was extremely hard, especially on that day.

Then I thought to myself how thankful I was to have her in my life. She offered me advice when times were tough and loved me with all her heart.

In a way, her death actually strengthened the meaning of Thanksgiving and what it meant to be thankful.

I understand if you may not have a family to go home to on break or may be in a bad place right now. But spend this holiday season with someone meaningful in your life.

Spend the day around friends and loved ones, curled up on the couch playing the new Call of Duty game, or just do something that makes you happy all around.

There are no rules on how you should spend Thanksgiving, but please do not cast it off as a forgotten holiday.

Consider what Thanksgiving means to you and be thankful. At times it may be easier said than done, but everything is temporary. Good times will come again, and you will be a better person because of it.

Ben Leman is a junior journalism major and can be reached at 581-2812 or at bhleman@eiu.edu.