The author (far right) with his family several years ago, before the addition of his youngest brother. (Guery family photo, used with permission.)
Milford, Connecticut, U.S.A. – This year has been a year of hardships and sadness. We as humans have had to mourn over a million people lost to the coronavirus. Many people have lost their jobs, fires have terrorized people all around the world, and we have had to socially distance ourselves from other people.
While this year hasn’t been the best, if you are reading this right now, you should be very grateful.
The coronavirus pandemic changed our world. From school to church to shopping, covid-19 has changed the way our world works and has left a scar.
As covid continues to worsen in the United States, the holiday season is here, starting with Thanksgiving, a major holiday this week. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of every November, Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude when Americans count their blessings.
Usually, Thanksgiving is celebrated with family and friends. However, due to covid, Americans have had to change those plans. Thanksgiving gatherings have become limited and discouraged and people worry that getting together will worsen the pandemic.
My family has also had to make some adjustments to our holiday plans. Usually, we go see our relatives at one of my cousin’s houses, but this year, my family stayed home. I had a smaller Thanksgiving with my parents and my two younger brothers.
It definitely hurts not seeing family, but I’m happy we were able to still do something. While this Thanksgiving hasn’t been ideal, I’m glad I got to spend it with the people I love. A lot of people weren’t that lucky.
This year hasn’t been a good one. But at this time of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to count your blessings and dwell on the good things that have happened this year. While they haven’t been as big as the bad things that happened this year, they are still out there.
I hope you had a great day of gratitude and found some peace in your blessings.
Gemard Geary is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
