What happened to the season of Thanksgiving?

After careful thought as to what I would write about for my guest column, my article appeared in the News-Gazette on Thanksgiving Day 2010. Thank you to everyone for your kind words. Writing this column was an honor.

What happened to the season of Thanksgiving?

Remember the days when we had approximately one month of Halloween, one month of Thanksgiving and little over a month to enjoy the Christmas season? The whole process was transitional and we eased into the holiday season. Something must have happened when I wasn’t paying attention. This year Christmas decorations were out before Halloween in some stores. Two weeks ago I was in a store that was decorated in Christmas decor and they were playing Christmas songs. I turned to another shopper and said, “Is that what I think it is?” “Are they playing Christmas songs?” That is exactly what it was. Has Thanksgiving been pared down to 24 hours?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s never exactly the same but the feelings generated are. No matter what is going on, I remember to focus on those things I’m thankful for.
How do you spend Thanksgiving Day?

Do you start your day by attending services or getting out for the Turkey trot? Do you watch parades and football?

For me, as the cook, the day begins with, centers around, and ends with food. Depending on our Thanksgiving plans, I love preparing the same traditional fare every year; turkey, 2-3 types of stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, green jello, crescent rolls, cranberries and pumpkin pie. It was Erma Bombeck that said “Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.”

Thanksgiving can be a time to connect with the people that you love most. Sometimes, however, that is not possible. Some years we have pushed Thanksgiving to the day after so that we could all be together. I have often told my children that it’s just a day and even if we can’t be all together on that day, we can recreate the essence of Thanksgiving and together we can make it special.

We mix it up by trying different things. I remember sometimes in the past when we have dressed up for our meal. Maybe it’s time to add a new recipe to the mix this year. I love decorating the table with art projects that the kids made when they were growing up.
After our meal we stay engaged by playing games together, of course in front of the TV so we can catch some football. Sometimes we have even watched a family favorite movie.

Do you need an idea for a new tradition? Assign someone to say a special thanksgiving reflection or prayer. Ask everyone to share their favorite Thanksgiving memory at the dinner table. For next year, keep a box handy to write down once a month what you are thankful for. Ask family members to participate in this several times over the next year. On Thanksgiving, pull them out and have them share a little more about what they are thankful for.

Even if you have to take a year off from being with the people that you love, do something that you like to do. If you find yourself spending Thanksgiving alone, why not reach out to others who might be alone today? I know of someone who holds a ‘Friendsgiving,’ inviting all their friends over who are unable to travel to see their own families and it has become their Thanksgiving tradition. Another suggestion is to contact an organization or church that provides Thanksgiving meals for seniors, international students, homeless persons and those who are alone at this time of year and volunteer to help make their day brighter.

Thanksgiving traditions can bring families together. One of my friends participates in and spreads the word to the community to provide turkey’s for families who cannot afford turkey and all the trimmings so that families in need are able to have their own traditional meal.
Today is a day of Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for? If you are in good health, if you have had some good news, if things are generally going well for you it will be easy to give thanks for the many benefits of your life. It’s a time to reflect on the past year of everything to be thankful for.

For many, this has been a difficult year. If you have lost your health, your job or a loved one you might be asking yourself what there is to be thankful for. (It’s a fact that this year more people are requesting assistance from human service organizations for the first time ever.) The pain just might be so great that you can’t see clear to offer thanksgiving. If you have faith, know that God never gives us more than we can handle. If you have little faith, remember that tough times don’t last. Hang in there.

Whatever you are doing on this Thanksgiving remember those who are homeless and alone, remember our service men and women who serve our country, remember those who are facing health issues. Last but not least, pick up the phone and call someone and let them know you are thinking about them this day.

Carry the spirit of Thanksgiving with you every day.

Finally I would like to share one of my favorite quotes: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!