Thanksgiving Disappointment: A Closer Look

Ah, the disappointment of holiday traditions that seem to vanish before our very eyes. This feeling hit hard when I couldn’t find A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on TV this year. The classic special, with its timeless message and quirky characters, had been a staple of the holiday season for so long. Remember Linus’s heartfelt speech about the Pilgrims and the Indians? It’s like a crash course in the history of Thanksgiving in under 30 minutes.

But instead of casually stumbling upon it while flipping through channels, I had to actively seek it out on Apple TV+. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s great that it’s available for free—even for those without a subscription. Yet, somehow, streaming it just doesn’t feel the same. It’s like a piece of our shared culture has somehow become a niche item, reserved for those in the know.

This disconnect got me thinking about the essence of Thanksgiving. It’s about honest gratitude and coming together, not just about fancy dinners or flashy parades. And as much as we try to recreate those traditions, they’re bound to disappoint us in the end. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of letdowns—like the sudden closure of my go-to Thanksgiving restaurant or the favorite retailer I frequented on Black Friday.

Every year, we cling to these rituals hoping to capture that same magic. But maybe the real lesson is that Thanksgiving isn’t about where we eat or what we buy—it’s about the simple act of being thankful. So this year, as we gather around our screens to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving or share a meal, let’s remember that the true spirit of the holiday lies in those moments of genuine gratitude.