A Nostalgic Thanksgiving: Holding Onto Tradition, Even When Things Change
Thanksgiving has always been one of those days that felt full from the moment you woke up. Growing up, we would all get ready and head straight to my aunt’s house. It was never quiet. It was family and sometimes friends. It was people talking over each other, kids running around, laughter coming from the kitchen, and that feeling of being surrounded by the people who made the day what it was.
When I think back, I can still see everyone gathered around the table and moving through the house like it was the most natural thing in the world. Those were the moments that shaped my idea of what Thanksgiving was supposed to feel like. Loud, warm, familiar, and full.
This year looks a little different for everyone in the family, and that is ok. Seasons shift, and sometimes the most loving thing we can do is follow where life is leading with grace.
This year, it will just be me and Andrew. It’s different from the Thanksgivings I grew up with, but I’m finding comfort in blending old memories with new moments. To keep the tradition alive, I’m making the same sides we always had. The ones that hold the history of all those years at my aunt’s house. The ones that make the day feel like Thanksgiving, no matter how big or small the gathering is.
And maybe after dinner I’ll do something I never would have done back then. Maybe I’ll put my pajamas on early, curl up on the couch, turn on a movie, and eat pumpkin pie in the quiet of my own home. A simple ending to a simple day, but still full in its own way.
If your Thanksgiving looks different this year too, I hope you find peace in the shift. Traditions can stay with us even when the setting changes. They live in the recipes we make, the memories we carry, and the small choices we make to keep our hearts connected to where we came from.
Thank you for being here with me. Thank you for supporting this cozy corner and allowing me to share pieces of my life and home with you. I am grateful for you today and always.
Sincerely,
Kari Anne