By Elizabeth Castoria on November 13, 2009

Hey, Thanks.

This time of year, we hear about being thankful more than ever. Generally speaking, right as all 48 family members sit down to enjoy the Thanksgiving feast is actually not the most appropriate time to have everyone individually ponder why thanks should be given—unless of course you want to be thankful that you managed to survive. But, sometime before the intoxicating aroma of Mom’s phenomenal stuffing and the tantalizing mountains of (dairy-free, duh) mashed potatoes take over your brain function completely, now’s not a bad time to think about thanks.

Sure, you can go the standard route and ponder the people, events, and presences in your life that you’d be lost without. Recognizing the community of family and friends who gather at your table this T-Day is a part of the tradition for a reason: it strengthens and solidifies bonds that often have a tendency to break down in our regular, busy schedules. But there’s something else to think about when we think about thanks this year: non-holidays.

It would be just about impossible to go a full day without having some experience worthy of thanks, but they might not always be the things you expect. Of course, if a stranger holds a door open for you or your best friend happens to bring you flowers or something of that ilk, those are the big-ticket items. But what about the other, not-so-obvious times when saying a simple “thanks” can really make a difference? Whether you go for a very quick “thank you!” or an Elvis-inspired “thank you, thank you very much,” here are a few of my top t.y.v.m. times:

1. In the office. Thanking your colleagues for all their hard work at the end of the day is something I picked up from VegNews’ Associate Publisher, Colleen Holland. A considerate, kind working environment is pretty much worth its weight in gold. When you figure out how to calculate the weight of an environment, call me, and I’ll do the math on how much gold is coming your way.

2. In public. Maybe someone lets you into their lane while driving. Maybe someone lets you go ahead of them at the grocery store, or maybe someone lets you cross the street in front of them while you’re walking your dog. It doesn’t have to be a verbal “thank you” complete with handshake and exchange of phone numbers, but a quick, simple wave can do the trick. Unless you want to get the person’s number, then by all means, ask away.

3. In conversation. Ok, this might seem like the “no sh*t, Sherlock” option, but stick with me here. Yes, of course it’s easiest to say “thanks” when you’re literally speaking with someone already, but the trick is when to do it. Especially for those of us who live a vegan lifestyle, Thanksgiving can be a holiday fraught with overheard conversations about how yummy the animal-derived dishes at the meal are (unless you’re fortunate enough to celebrate a totally vegan T-Day). Nobody likes a Proselytizing Patty, but these conversations really can be a great opportunity to stand up for the animals. If you find yourself in a conversation that turns veg-friendly, don’t forget to thank whomever you’re speaking with for their curiosity about leading a compassionate, vegan life.

Of course, saying thanks is the baseline. You can take it up a notch with fantastic note cards, or go all out and make cookies. Whether you’re vegan or not, the animals will thank you for making vegan cookies, and if you need some inspiration, VegNews just put out our first-ever cookbook, our Holiday Cookie Collection. Maybe we’ve made and eaten more cookies than any non-bakery staff should. However and whomever you thank this season, say it early, and say it often. Oh, and thanks for reading.

 

 

   
 

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