Recently updated on August 13th, 2023 at 09:21 pm
My name is Michelle Rose Murphy. I have been a Trafalgar Travel Director for 5 year now, running trips primarily in Eastern Canada, Eastern US, South Eastern US, and all the way down to Florida, and as west as Nashville, TN.
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Thanksgiving is something my guests always have questions about, as it’s such a famous American holiday. It has been celebrated annually in the US since 1789, when President George Washington proclaimed it a national holiday and day of gathering.
Thanksgiving is one of the most important times of year for me because it is the only time my Dad’s side of the family come together in the same house to spend the day feasting and socializing. It’s really special to us. It’s a day in which we all catch up on each others lives and make memories together. Life and distance makes it hard for us to keep in touch throughout the year, so this is an important time for us as a family. If I’m having Thanksgiving with my Dads side of the family, we head up to my Aunt’s house in the northeast – Pennsylvania. Everyone traditionally brings one dish, so there is always an array of food and many desserts to choose from.
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I’ll be with my Dad’s family for Thanksgiving this year, but if I was on a trip I would encourage my guests to follow a tradition I do every year. I make a list of 50 things I am thankful for, and then take some time for myself to meditate on them. I would suggest to my guests to do the same, although perhaps list only 10 things instead of 50, as they are of course busy on their trip. I would then recommend they take 20 minutes out of their day to meditate on their list.
For Trafalgar guests who visit the US over Thanksgiving, they are extra lucky as they get to spend the holiday with their new family – the companions they meet and get to know on their trip.
Learning, growing and travelling as a group brings people together in beautiful ways, and this is especially emphasised over Thanksgiving. Plus, they get to indulge in all of the delicious Thanksgiving food – mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, turkey (of course), pumpkin pie and apple pie.
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Spending time on the road over Thanksgiving as a Travel Director has both pros and cons. I love being able to introduce others to the history and traditions of Thanksgiving, and for them to be a part of such a long standing American holiday. The downsides are of course being away from my family at such a special time – I miss being able to celebrate with them, and my boyfriend.
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For me, Thanksgiving isn’t so much about where you are, but who you are with. Being with people you love and are grateful for is the true essence of the holiday. Having said that, you also can’t beat the North East of the US at this time of year, particularly around New England, North Carolina and South Carolina. The air is crisp and cold, the fall colours are still painting the landscape a fiery masterpiece of reds, browns and oranges, there are pumpkins everywhere and the houses are just so cosy and welcoming.
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Reflecting on this year, I”m thankful for so many things. I’m thankful for my close relationships with both my Dad and my Mom. I’m thankful for my boyfriend, Will. I’m thankful that I get to live in one of the most extraordinary cities in the world, New York City. I’m thankful for my job and the opportunities Travel Directing has brought me. I’m thankful for the many connections that I have made with others through my travels and my job. And I’m thankful that I can freely travel to many destinations around the world and enjoy different cultures, when many can’t. Looking back on the memories from my travels never fails to fill my heart with joy and gratitude.
How will you be celebrating Thanksgiving this year, and what are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments below…