I hate Thanksgiving!

(for the Americans here... Thanksgiving in Canada is this weekend)

Thanksgiving really sucks. I get to see everyone around me going home for the weekend. And it just reminds me that I have nowhere to go "home" to. I'll just spend the weekend here, by myself, studying.

I feel so lonely. I haven't been able to stop crying since last night.

I am sorry your are feeling lonely. You can always hang out at TCS. There is always someone here.

I don't know how possible it is, but maybe you can spend Thanksgiving with other people who have no place to go. Are there no other classmates (even if they're not strictly your friends) that you can at least spend dinner with? Or maybe a shelter you can volunteer at? If not, then you know that we're always willing to hang out with you, even if it isn't in person!

I am so sorry you are feeling lonely. I agree with Sandtigress. Do you have some friends who might include you if they knew your situation? Also, are there any churches in the area who might be preparing a Thanksgiving lunch? If so, I know they would be glad to have you.

You know, you might want to consider something new. If you have a hospital or a nursing home nearby, you may want to get some pretty cards or something simple, maybe tissue flowers and go over there and wish everyone a very happy day, and give them out.

You will feel like a million dollars.

Originally Posted by Sandtigress

I don't know how possible it is, but maybe you can spend Thanksgiving with other people who have no place to go. Are there no other classmates (even if they're not strictly your friends) that you can at least spend dinner with? Or maybe a shelter you can volunteer at? If not, then you know that we're always willing to hang out with you, even if it isn't in person!

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Some of the nicest holiday memories I have are from 30 years ago when I was essentially alone here, no family, no $$ to travel home at holidays, etc. But I was part of a group, of whom a number were in similar situations, and we got together at times like that and made our own "family". The "waifs and strays" gatherings were such fun! One person would spearhead a meal, and everyone contribute something to it. I'm grinning ear to ear, just remembering.

Try to put a group together -- even a small one -- you may be beginning a tradition. You might even want to incorprate into your "waifs and strays" activities, some kind of volunteering that would make someone else's holiday happier, too.

I've been in your shoes - no family nearby and watching everyone else go home for Thanksgiving. Now if I know of anyone who is nearby and has nowhere to go, we invite them to join our family.

I liked the idea of starting your own "waif" dinner.

I particularly like the idea of volunteering or going to a retirement/senior's home and participating. A lot of these folks have no family or at least nobody that bothers going to see them and I think that would be lovely for both you and them.

I'm a 40 y/o never-married woman, and while I do go spend holidays with my widowed father or other relatives sometimes, I don't always. When I do go to my dad's it means a 17-hour drive, then kitchen duty, cooking for a dozen people, then another 17-hour drive back, so it's hardly a vacation although of course I love seeing family.

Holidays aren't the same after your parents are gone. That's probably not much consolation to you now, but it's true.

I honestly don't mind spending holidays alone (which is good, since I do it a lot. LOL) However, if I were you, I'd hunt up some friends who are similarly situated and have a dinner together. One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was in 1991, when a bunch of my single women friends got together at one of our homes. Family isn't necessarily related.

Also, the suggestions that you spend your holiday visiting nursing homes or volunteering are good, too.

I hate thanksgiving mainly because I really don't like the whole family get together..considering the fact that a good chunk of my family hates me because they think that I'm an "angry" person. yeeeah I'm soooooooooo angry.

I agree with everyone else, volunteer someplace or do something special for people =)

This isn't a very good thanksgiving here either. Sister pulling stunts and such.. but ohwell.

we europeans dont celebrate it so you an spend time online with me

I have not been able to get home for celebrations like Christmas for years, and I always have a group of friends round to eat and celebrate with me. We always have fun, and I always include some people who don't usually celebrate those festivals, so we can all learn from each other. They often ask me back to join in their festivals like Bajram. You can always learn and always help someone.

Originally Posted by KittenKiya

You know, you might want to consider something new. If you have a hospital or a nursing home nearby, you may want to get some pretty cards or something simple, maybe tissue flowers and go over there and wish everyone a very happy day, and give them out.

You will feel like a million dollars.

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....Listen to her! ...this is a Golden Advice...

thanks for the comforting words.

I do feel much better now. I think it was another one of my nasty bouts of depression. I guess that's a good reminder for me to get help before it comes back again.

The main problem I am having with Thanksgiving is not the day itself... it just reminded me of how alone I really am. I do have a family, but I do not like most of my family, particularely my parents. So going to visit them isn't like going "home". It's a chore.

Until over a year ago, I was living with my boyfriend and felt a great deal of affinity with his family. Then after we broke up, I realised that I hadn't really created a bond with his family (I was mostly relying on him as a bond) and I never managed to get really close to them. And I know that Thanksgiving is a big family holiday for them. I had secret hopes that I would be invited but I wasn't. I know if I asked to go they would say yes and would probably enjoy seeing me, but it's not like me to invite myself somewhere. Especially to a family thing.

Now I just moved here about a month ago. I don't really have any friends. I barely even know anyone still. I always have problems making friends.

Most of the time I'm doing fine, but as soon as I start feeling sad, it just reminds me of how I have no one around to comfort me. No one I can call to just talk. Makes me feel very helpless and alone.

As for this thanksgiving, I will probably use the day off to catch up on some school work. Maybe do something nice too. I have been so obsessed with schoolwork that I barely allowed myself to go out.
Maybe I'll take myself out for dinner and a movie!

I'm sorry to hear that Thanksgiving is such a blue time for you, do you have any other school mates or friends that are going to be alone too??. Maybe you can all get together?