Thanksgiving. If you watch and believe the commercials and newspaper ads or even the Hallmark movies, just the mention of the word evokes thoughts of a table full of delicious food, catching up with family members you haven't seen in a while, naps and family football rivalries. This may not be what Thanksgiving looks like for you. You may dread "going over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house"-because you'll be trapped with all those family members you make a point to NOT spend time with all during the rest of the year. Your father in law may drive you crazy. Uncle Joe may smell like cigarette smoke (which you are allergic to) and Aunt Betty won't shut up about her sciatica. So, how do you handle getting through the day with difficult relatives? Here's some ways for you to enjoy your Thanksgiving day.
1. Remind yourself that it is only for a limited amount of time. You aren't moving in permanently and you'll get to go home. You can find ways to help out, set the table, entertain the kids, throw the ball or take out the trash to make the day go more quickly and smoothly.
2. Instead of looking at the day as a sentence, look at it as the opportunity to get away from your regular routine. We all get comfortable in our daily grind, and this is a day that breaks that grind up. Pay attention to things you wouldn't normally see or be around. You may travel, so learn a little about your destination and then ask your family to tell you stories about their town or city.
3. Take the opportunity to really connect with people that share your DNA. Everyone has a story, and maybe it's time to ask your father in law about his time he served in the military, or why he has been able to stay at his job for 30 years. You may learn about his ability to persevere under difficult circumstances, or how he learned loyalty, in both his career and his personal life.
4. Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on them. Is Aunt Betty complaining about her sciatica because deep down she really doesn't felt heard? Ask her questions instead of just ignoring her or thinking she's a habitual complainer. (She might be, and you can diffuse that). Sympathize with her and acknowledge her pain. Then, move on to someone else.
5. Compliment the hostess/host for a job well done. Yeah, the turkey may be dry, and the stuffing may have onions in it. That's not the point. The point is someone put a lot of time and energy into preparing this meal for you, and gratitude is certainly called for.
6. Remember what you are thankful for. That's the whole point of the day, right? To return thanks. Before Thanksgiving Day, make a list of 10 things you are grateful for. Then, if you start to become weary during the day, just pull out your list and remind yourself why you are even there to begin with. To be thankful.
My prayer for you is that you enjoy your day, with all your kooky relatives, the dry turkey, and your team that blows the game in the last seconds. In the end, its really about how you decide to show up and express your thanksgiving for all your blessings. Choose to show up filled with gratitude and thanks, and my guess is you'll have a fantastic day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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