Thanksgiving Message

Thanksgiving isn’t just for those gathered around crowded tables. It’s for everyone: the widow eating a quiet meal, the traveler far from home, the introvert who chose solitude, and the person who has nowhere else to be. This day belongs to all of us, and being alone doesn’t make you any less worthy of celebrating gratitude.

If you’re facing Thanksgiving alone and worried about how that might feel, a little planning can make all the difference. One of the best ways to combat loneliness is by helping someone else. Food banks are almost always looking for volunteers on Thanksgiving, and there’s something truly grounding about serving others. You start feeling empty, but somehow leave feeling full.

Not the volunteering type? That’s okay too. Use this unexpected gift of time for something you’ve been avoiding. Finally tackle that closet bursting with clothes you’ll never wear again. Clean out the junk drawer that has turned into an archaeological dig. Donate what you don’t need—someone else could use it. Or simply read that book that’s been sitting on your nightstand for months. When you’re done, write a review. Share what you learned.

And if you’re fortunate enough to be with family and friends this year, be fully present. Smile sincerely. These moments tend to become the memories that carry us later.

However you spend this day, you’re worthy of it.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Bobbie Bennett

2025