The Moments Spent with Your Loved Ones

By Sayeed Islam 

The weather outside has been changing. The leaves are turning orange, brown, and yellow, and soon they shall fall. Thanksgiving is a day when we are all thankful! According to a quick Google search, in Canada, it's celebrated for good harvest and blessings, and being thankful for it. As an international student, who is a long way from home, even Thanksgiving Day doesn’t feel that thankful sometimes. Because at the end of the day it's not the date or the occasion it is about the people at the time. The moments spent with your loved ones.  Those warm and happy feelings that are shared when sitting around the table, and enjoying the family secret-recipe food, be it turkey or veggies, hits the right spot. Memories are created, laughter is shared, and tears shed, even fights have been fought but the fact remains intact. The fact that the people around us are what makes it so special. So how could we feel happy when we have been only reminded of our past? Even when we want to hold them or just smile at them, we can’t. I feel the only way to feel happy, would be to make new memories. Meet new people, make new friends. Because if we shoot for the stars, we might end up landing on the moon. In between all those new friends and people, we can find new loved ones. Yes, naturally we won’t find replacements for people who will fill the gap completely. Some friends to sit around the table and enjoy the not-so-secret recipes from Youtube, maybe share laughter with inside jokes that no one would even guess what we all are talking about. The jokes must make up for the food thanks to your “not a good cook” friend. Friends who you would shed tears with and get into fights with, and slowly over with the sweet and slow tides of time, they turn into family. You see as I mentioned earlier, it's not the date or the occasion it's really the people we are surrounded with. It's really the vibes that you flow with.  So don’t give up on meeting new people, talking to that person who really interests you! They may not be your soulmate, but they might be the person who you can laugh the loudest with, cry without worries and feel at peace when with them. These small things like feelings and presence are what make our life worth living. So, make friends, find family in the ones you don’t even see familiarity with, and love this world with all you have. With the full spirit of Thanksgiving Day, I urge everyone to hold their loved ones tight, if they are away, give them a call!  All in all, be thankful for all the blessings and good tidings and for all your loved ones have done, for you and your future. Happy Thanksgiving.