I’m thankful for my family and friends. I’m thankful for the people of Pearl River County for welcoming me in to the community nearly a year ago. And lastly, I’m thankful for my health and my job.

There are so many things to be thankful for, and Thanksgiving makes you realize that.

Throughout the year, we often lose sight of what’s important in our lives. We stress about minute details that always find resolutions. We fail to live in the moment and instead find ourselves living in the future or in the past. We also tend to take for granted the moments shared with loved ones.

However, good food and company has a way of putting things into perspective during the holiday season.

The iconic British rock band, The Beatles, said it best, “All you need is love.”

A world without it would be a sad one, so we mustn’t miss out on every opportunity to make sure we love with all our hearts.

Living miles away from home has given me a newfound appreciation for my loved ones. Last Thanksgiving, I was able to celebrate the holiday with my family before moving to Mississippi. On that day, we cooked a meal for hundreds, even though we were a small group, we laughed about the good times we shared and fought over who would get the last Pillsbury biscuit.

While this Thanksgiving won’t be spent with family, I will undoubtedly occupy my time by reminiscing all the precious memories I have of them until I see them again in Christmas.

It doesn’t matter how much money you have or how many material items you own, in the end, family is all you need and I’m so thankful I have that.

On this Thanksgiving Day, forget about yesterday or tomorrow and focus solely on today. When you sit around the dining room table for Thanksgiving dinner, enjoy the company of all your loved ones, whether you like them or not, and thank your lucky stars that you’re sharing a precious moment with the people who mean the most to you in the world.