We can’t stop dreaming of stuffing and turkey. This is probably due to the fact that Thanksgiving is four days away! If you are anything like us, you will be lounging in your sweats with engorged stomachs from a weekend’s worth of food consumed in a single day. We’re drooling thinking of the immense amount of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted carrots, green bean casserole and three different kinds of pie devoured on Thursday – only to be followed by infamous thanksgiving leftover sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday. Needless to say, green smoothies and salads are key components in our meal plan next week, lots and lots of greens.

More meaningful than the food (though nothing is more important), this week truly is about gratitude. From laughing and playing old-school board games while waiting for the turkey to finish cooking, sitting around the table looking at the amazing support systems and loved ones during family meals to dozing off next to your significant other while Thanksgiving Day football blares through the speakers, this day is always a blessing.

Giving thanks is something that is typically forgotten throughout the year – this holiday is a great reminder of what gratitude can do to the soul. This simple action opens our minds to think about what we are thankful for in our lives. Here are five things we are especially grateful for this year:

1. Our Senses: We can see, smell, hear, touch, and taste and yet more than a quarter of this world’s population does not have five functioning senses. Imagine what it would be like to travel to the Cliffs of Moher and not be able to see them, or get a coveted reservation at a five-star restaurant and not being able to taste the truffle oil in your pasta dish. We are both happy and healthy and capable of smelling the sweet smell of flowers in the spring, hearing the ocean crash upon the shore, touching the soft skin of a newborn baby, tasting hot chocolate on a cold winter night, and seeing the world unfold before us. We are especially grateful for our experiences that our senses make complete.
   

   

   

   
2. Human Connection: This year, more than ever, we are thankful for the people in our lives. Without this support system, we wouldn’t be where we are today. From lending us money when we need it to the manual labor offered when moving across town and feeding our beloved fish, Skeeter when we’re traveling, our friends and family are everything. Craving connections with people and caring, truly caring about these people whether they are a stranger in line at Starbucks or a best friend from elementary school, are what make us human. Especially in the days we are living in today, we are grateful for the good in people.
   

   

   

   
3. Technology: On the flip side, we are grateful for the technology we have in this day in age. Computers, cell phones, digital cameras, cloud drives, the list goes on and on. Keeping in touch with those afar is easier than ever with video chatting or snapchats. Sharing our travel experiences with all of you would not be nearly as easy without blogging technology. Though it may be a blessing and a curse, especially at this time of year, we are thankful for the positive uses of technology.
4. The Ability to Travel: Traveling by car, bus, train or plane to locations near and far is something we are not taking for granted. Experiencing different cultures, meeting new people, tasting regional delicacies and having a partner to travel with make this ability even more special. This year we are especially thankful for our jobs and the time we dedicate to see the world while we are young.
5. Each Other: Believe it or not, our six year anniversary is this Thursday, November 23 – Thanksgiving Day. Since the day we met, we have been able to keep each other smiling and laughing. Though we have both had hard times, times when we wanted to give up on our career paths or goals, times when we disagreed and didn’t want to be near each other, we never gave up on us. Especially this year, we are thankful for the support, love and happiness of the other person.
   

   

What are you especially grateful for this year? How are you planning on telling others this Thursday? Let us know in the comments below – we would love to hear from you!