Thanksgiving night, I swapped tradition for a seat at an NFL game. Just me and the crowd, feeling the electricity of the Ravens vs. Bengals showdown. There’s something about being immersed in the action, watching every play unfold live, that hits different.
Alone in the stands, I found connection in the energy of the people around me, high-fiving and hugging strangers, and cheering like we were all on the same team.
It wasn’t about who I was with or the usual Thanksgiving routine, I was in need of something different. It was about showing up in the moment for the pure joy of the game. By the end of the night, I felt that rush you only get when you’re really present. It was proof that sometimes the best traditions are the ones you make on your own terms. I had no vested interest other than watching Joe Burrow, briefly a Buckeye, return to the field.
The entire experience felt sacred, a memory to live fully sometimes, rather than share on social media, as I typically would. It’s as though sharing there would dim the conversations I had, the laughter, the cheering, the moment.
Kendra Trammel is a writer and brand steward using photography and brief reflection to document a weekly moment in time.