I’ve noticed over the past few years that Thanksgiving has been losing its meaning. Perhaps it’s just that my own perceptions of Thanksgiving have changed, but I believe that there is more to this not-so-subtle transformation from a meaningful holiday to a mere transition to important football games and the holiday season.

On Thanksgiving, I, like much of the population, enjoy consuming copious amounts of turkey and stuffing before falling asleep in front of a football game. But unlike so many, I view the national holiday as more than just a sprint for the NFL playoffs. I view the holiday as a time where we, as a nation, shed our differences and look back on all that we have to be thankful for.