Ahhh Thanksgiving Day…that time when friends and family unite to share a meal and catch up on stories, that magical day when cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, friends and siblings eat way more food than they should and gather around the television to enjoy a game and root for their team… Wait a minute… that pretty much describes any average Sunday in Costa Rica. What’s the big fuss?

Indeed those of us lucky enough to have grown up “tico” are somewhat baffled by the premise that something we do so often becomes such an important celebration for others.

But soon enough, those of you who are moving away to begin your studies abroad will understand just how much of a blessing we have been taking for granted all this time.

Distance will finally become synonymous to constraint in your vocabulary and those familiar faces and conversations will become pleasant memories to look forward to on those trips back home (probably during– YOU GESSED IT…Thanksgiving!)

It seems ironic that we should need to move away from that which we love in order to fully grasp its significance. Nevertheless, as humans we seemed doomed to re visit this old and trite concept over and over again without learning our lesson.

Be thankful for the apparently meaningless tasks and interactions you have during the day. When compared to your greater goals they may pale and seem pointless, yet your path towards those greater goals is paved by these same “trivial” interactions and what could be more important to our trip than a comfortable and enjoyable road?

Enjoy all you take for granted today and be thankful for the life and opportunities that lie ahead of you. Life is all about stopping to smell the roses and from time to time yes… enjoying some turkey and pumpkin pie.