Ever since my parents separated almost a year ago, the holidays have not seemed as exciting to me.

Instead of pondering over what side dishes I will help my mom make or what gifts I will buy my niece, I have been trying to decide which parent to spend Thanksgiving with, and whom I will leave out.

I have also been trying to deal with the dismal prospect that, because of my parents’ separation, the number of people I will spend the holidays with has been reduced from six to two.

Last Thanksgiving was the last time that my whole family would ever eat together.

I helped prepare a feast for my father, mother, brother, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and myself.

I feel mournful when I think of how I will never again spend another chaotically joyful holiday with all of us togethe.

My sister is only related to my father, so she, her husband and her daughter will be spending the holidays with my dad. But my brother and I, not wanting to leave our mother by herself, will be spending the holidays with her.

I think that I may never spend a holiday with my father or my sister again.

These dismal thoughts have consumed my mind more and more as Thanksgiving nears

But last week, a couple of things made me realize that my thoughts were all in the wrong place.

Last weekend, I went out with two of my best friends and we had some of the most fun that we have ever had.

We laughed, we cried, we hugged each other.

I realized what a wonderful feeling it is to have friends that you can tell absolutely anything to.

We love each other like sisters, and I am so lucky to have them.

I also feel very lucky to have two other friends that I am just as close to.

I would do anything for them and they would do anything for me.

It provides a wonderful sense of security to share such profound trust and friendship with them.

I also greatly appreciate the love that I share with my boyfriend of nine months.

Last week, he invited me to Palm Springs to spend Thanksgiving with his family, whom I have not yet met.

Though I turned down his offer because I wanted to be with my family, we arranged for me to come up the day after Thanksgiving and spend the weekend with his family.

I am excited to meet all of his family members whom I have heard so much about.

He is someone I feel extremely privileged to have in my life, and I feel closer to him than anyone I have ever known.

I am also very close with my family.

Just because all of my family will not physically be there to share Thanksgiving dinner with me, it does not mean that I cannot share the holidays with them.

I can still talk on the phone with them and tell them how much I love them.

They do not need to physically be there to share the love that we all have for each other, which is what is really important.

I have realized that the holidays are not just about how many people you spend time with.

They are about the love that you share with others, and I have so much of that in my life.

I have so much to be thankful for that this overpowers any imperfections in my holiday plans. As long as I have this love, my holidays will always be joyful.