The week of Thanksgiving is upon us: turkeys, cooking, Pilgrims, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
We are busy!
So what is going right for you in this moment? What is going right for you today? What is going right for you this week?
Close your eyes for a second and think of something going right, it can be anything.
This is what is going right for me: _____________________________________________
See, I knew you could do it. Now say “thank you” to yourself or out loud.
You just acknowledged that among the cranking up insanity of the holidays, which begins “officially” this week (ha!), there is something to be grateful for. Could you do this at least twice a day until Thursday’s meal? Your heart and mind will now be primed to suggest a new tradition at your Thanksgiving table: The Gratitude Game.
Here’s how it works:
* After the turkey and stuffing, during the pie and coffee time, suggest that you go around the table and each person tells one thing going right in his or her life right now that they are thankful for.
* See how it goes… If you have a tough group, you could call it quits, adjourn, and go wash the dishes. But, with a little encouragement from you, I’ll bet you can tease out a second round. How about a third? That’s usually the maximum folks feel comfortable with, although I have heard stories about some families that went for 11 rounds before they went for naps or football.
* After you finish, notice how you feel.
Please let me know how it went and Happy Thanksgiving!
When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.
Willie Nelson
As long ago as the 1960′s my parents refused to follow the usual holiday pattern of buying, preparing and being so tired that they could not actually enjoy a birthday, a holiday, any so called special day.
There were no presents for any of the special days but what we always had was great food prepared by us and three, four hour meals with stories, much laughter and sometimes tears. For Thanksgiving we had duck. We had pumpkin cheese pie – something we improved on over the years, finally elaborating our own version, all with real pumpkin, not the canned versions.
Our means were modest but because we shopped after the special days we always had very nice cards, beautiful china, wonderful crystal glasses. The few people who were invited to our little gatherings wanted to come again. I will always remember my mother explaining how one guest, when I was already working overseas and not home, ate, spoke and drank so well that he went to sleep in my old bed. Even though the meal had started at one in the afternoon, he just could not make it back home until the next day.
I have followed the tradition. There is no shopping before the special day. The pumpkin was cooked and frozen after Hollow’s eve. That is when they are most plentiful. I got a turkey during my regular shopping day because I bought a certain amount and could get it so cheaply. It will be cooked after Thanksgiving.
I gave myself a great Sunday before Thanksgiving – no car, nothing but reading and running and music. On Thanksgiving I will go to two different houses – walking distance. I
will go for the company, the talk, as somehow a meal for two around my table has been transformed into what “thanksgiving” is really all about – sharing with others, giving thanks not only for bounty and family but that greater family outside our own. I will bring my pumpkin cheese cake, two versions and enjoy the day.
Oh, yes, I will also go to the ‘office’ for a while, for a special reason, but that is another story.
Love finding your website and inspiring blog – thanks for the encouraging perspective on Gratitude.