Ryan Abramson: Friendsgiving - Celebrate All the Good and Be Thankful for the Opportunities Ahead

Thanksgiving is a time to gather, feast, and reflect on the blessings in our lives. But nestled within this season is another cherished tradition that deserves its moment in the spotlight: Friendsgiving. It’s a modern celebration of friendship—a time to honor the people who stand beside us through life’s triumphs and challenges, who know us deeply and love us anyway. Friendsgiving allows us to pause from the everyday, gather with our chosen family, and celebrate the unique power of friendship.

The Power of Friendship: A Bond Like No Other

Friendship is one of life’s most enduring treasures. As the famous writer Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” True friendship requires effort, care, and commitment, and its rewards are immeasurable. Friends are the ones who see us for who we truly are and offer unconditional support. Whether we’re celebrating life’s big wins or facing its toughest obstacles, our friends are there, steadfast and unwavering.

RYAN ABRAMSON NERD NOTE: Emerson should be on your reading list too. "Self Reliance" from his First Essays is a must read. It contains the one of his most recurrent themes: the need for each person to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his or her own instincts and ideas. (AKA: Be Different - Full Text Here).

C.S. Lewis beautifully captured the essence of friendship, stating, “Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” It’s in these shared moments—of laughter, vulnerability, and connection—that the foundation of friendship is built. Friends don’t just accept our quirks; they often cherish them, seeing our idiosyncrasies as the very things that make us unique.

Friends Through Thick and Thin

The true test of friendship is how it weathers life’s storms. Friends are the ones who stay by your side, no matter the circumstances. When challenges arise—whether it’s a career setback, a personal loss, or a period of self-doubt—friends become a lifeline. They provide not just a shoulder to lean on but a steady source of encouragement and hope.

A storm of change and crazy can sweep over you faster than you can ever imagine. But it is being resilient and positive that helps to welcome friends to support your new journey. (See Ryan Abramson blog on Positivity at OakridgeLeaders.com)

Friends Celebrate Your Success

Equally important is the role friends play in celebrating our successes. They are our loudest cheerleaders, the ones who pop the champagne when we land the dream job, complete the marathon, or simply make it through a tough week. Their joy for our achievements is genuine, often amplifying our own.

Celebrating with friends is one of life’s great pleasures. There’s a certain magic in toasting milestones and creating memories with people who have cheered for us every step of the way. As the writer Albert Schweitzer aptly put it, “Happiness is the only thing that multiplies when you share it.”

Ryan Abramson: Loving the Real You

One of the greatest gifts of friendship is the way it allows us to be fully ourselves. Friends know our habits, our quirks, and even our less-than-perfect moments—and they love us all the same. God knows that I can be tough to love somedays. With my non-stop thinking and never-ending ideas, I can drive a lot of people crazy. The Ryan Abramson blog posts have helped me vent many of these thoughts to avoid annoying friends.

Have a habit of mixing up song lyrics? Forget birthdays but remember obscure trivia? Rest assured, your friends find these traits endearing. Their acceptance and love remind us that we don’t have to be perfect to be cherished. As Oscar Wilde once said, “True friends stab you in the front.” Friends offer honesty, not to harm but to help us grow, and they stand by us through every stage of life.

Friendsgiving: A Time to Reflect and Celebrate

Thanksgiving, at its heart, is about gratitude. It’s a time to reflect on all we have—our health, our family, our opportunities—and give thanks. Friendsgiving builds on this tradition by focusing on gratitude for our friendships.

As the Food Network's Ree Drummond says, "Gathering for Friendsgiving is about more than sharing a meal." It’s a chance to create new traditions and reflect on the people who make our lives richer. Whether you’re hosting a potluck with mismatched chairs or a lavish dinner party, the spirit of the occasion lies in the connections you nurture.

Nerd Note: The inspiration for the Ryan Abramson blog came from the Pioneer Woman.

Consider starting your Friendsgiving gathering by inviting everyone to share what they’re thankful for. It’s a simple but powerful way to set the tone and create a space of positivity and appreciation. Remember, gratitude has a ripple effect—what you give, you receive in abundance.

The internet is buzzing with #Friendsgiving Posts!

Looking to the Future With Hope

As we celebrate Friendsgiving, it’s also a time to look ahead with optimism. The friendships we honor today are not just part of our past but a vital part of our future. Friends remind us that no matter what challenges lie ahead, we have a network of support, laughter, and love to carry us through.

As Marcel Proust once reflected, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” In this season of reflection and celebration, let us be mindful of the friends who nurture our spirits and inspire us to keep growing. (Nerd note: He said this in French, so it is a translation; Ryan Abramson does not know French.).

Closing Thoughts

Friendsgiving is a beautiful reminder of the power of human connection. It’s an opportunity to break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and honor the people who make our lives meaningful. It’s about sharing stories, creating memories, and expressing gratitude for the friends who enrich our journey.

As you gather around the table this Friendsgiving, take a moment to look at the faces of the people who have stood by you, cheered for you, and loved you just as you are. Celebrate the joy of friendship, and remember to carry that spirit of gratitude with you—not just for the season, but throughout the year. After all, friends are one of life’s greatest blessings, and their presence is something to cherish every day.

From Bucks County's Ryan Abramson to you: Happy Friendsgiving!