This November, I would like to remind everyone that we have a lot to be thankful for. I want more people to be aware of the “War on Thanksgiving.”

It’s year round and must be stopped because it’s stealing your happiness.

Thanksgiving lets people celebrate with family over a nice home-cooked meal. This holiday is different from many others because the primary focus is only on one aspect: being thankful.

Did anyone else hear about the sinkhole that opened up in the Meridian IHOP parking lot and swallowed entire cars? It happened. It could have happened to anyone, but it unfortunately happened to those people. However, it did not happen to the majority of the people reading this column.

Where is the grateful feeling in the morning that people should be experiencing? I suppose they are all on Facebook getting mad at political posts and offended at everything. More people should say, “Hey, I’m having a bad day, but at least a freak geological depression did not swallow my vehicle.”

This phenomenon is called being thankful or grateful for what you have. It does not mean that you are thankful it happened to someone else, but it is rather the realization that life is short and nothing is guaranteed to you.

To me being thankful is being realistic. No one has a charmed life. Everyone has problems, demons and drunk uncles they would rather not mention. It’s an easy concept to get.

We should be respectful of each other and be glad we have people in our lives that we can celebrate with. Honestly, some people don’t. Some people have passed away or can’t afford to visit their family. A lot of people overseas would love to spend the holidays with the people they love.

Consequently, November is also the month of Veterans Day. Not to be confused with Memorial Day in the spring where we all remember those who have given their lives for freedom. This holiday gives residents the opportunity to thank veterans while they are still with us.

Another coincidence is that IHOP is celebrating Veterans Day by honoring our brave men and women with free patriotic pancakes. From 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. today, free red, white and blue pancakes will be offered to veterans and active-duty military to thank them for their bravery and service to our country.

SEE? IHOP gets it. That poor restaurant did not lose a car — they lost a whole parking lot and some customers. Yet here they are showing gratitude toward others. (If you do go, park a block away just to be safe.)

No matter what is causing stress or unhappiness in your life, don’t let it take away your holiday cheer. Don’t let it keep you from being grateful for what and who you have this season. Help end the War on Thanksgiving.

Lyndy Berryhill is a staff writer for the Oxford EAGLE. Contact her at lyndy.berryhill@oxfordeagle.com.