Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Thanksgiving and you’re probably stuffed to the brim with good food, ready for a Thanksgiving nap. Did you know Thanksgiving as we know it today was actually established by President Lincoln during the Civil War? The U.S. Army reports, “according to social historian Elizabeth Pleck, as the Civil War divided a nation, Thanksgiving sought to instill a cohesive identity, no longer associating the day with just a New England celebration, but encompassing all Americans.” We couldn’t let the ultimate #thankfulThursday pass without expressing our gratitude to our past, present, and transitioning service members.

Thank you service members for all you have done and are doing so our country can enjoy this special day in freedom. A special thank you to military service members who aren’t able to celebrate with their family on this holiday. We deeply appreciate your sacrifice. If it weren’t for you, none of us could enjoy Thanksgiving with our families in safety.

Thank you also for giving us so many things to be grateful for. As we reflect on all we are thankful for this year, so many things tie back to you and all you do for our country. Our families, jobs, fun, rights, freedom, beautiful land – none of it would be the same without your sacrifice, dedication, and hard work.

Thank you!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to look around and enjoy what we have. If you’re a present service member, take a minute and think about what it is you’re serving for, what it is you’re thankful for. If you’re a veteran, enjoy the freedom you fought so hard to preserve and give thanks for those things that motivated you to serve that you now get to enjoy.

We’d like to recommend a quick Thanksgiving exercise to you. Invite whoever you’re celebrating Thanksgiving with this year – whether from a distance or in-person – to do it with you! Set a timer for four minutes. Pull out a piece of paper and a pen or open up a new note on your phone. Start the timer and write down as many things as you can that you are grateful for. When the timer goes off, share out loud with one another a few things off your list.

We have so much to be thankful for in the United States. In a time when it feels like so many things are dividing us or keeping us separate from one another, let’s take a few moments to come together and be unified in our gratitude, just like President Lincoln intended all those years ago.

Check out our 21-day sprint course to get plugged into a family of past and present service members. We’re here to support you!

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By Bethany Faulds and Phil Randazzo