Thanksgiving is a tradition rooted in gratitude and steeped with history. Yet, like most holidays, priorities can easily get skewed towards stuffing ourselves with food and less about the opportunity to celebrate the true meanings. Don’t get me wrong, food is important, too, and it absolutely should be celebrated and eaten with joy. But if the richness of the holidays behind the food get muted, Thanksgiving becomes just another dinner.
Thanksgiving, to me, is all about giving back, lending a helping hand, feeding your family, and spreading gratitude.
“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make”
Famous last words in The Beatles’ Abbey Road album
So, how can we spread joy and gratitude this Thanksgiving? Here’s a list of 10 ideas, but there are plenty of other ways so get creative in how you spread gratitude.
1. Go around the dinner table and say what your thankful for
It can’t get easier than that. You may already do this one, but this year, make sure you do it with heart. If you have food on your table and your breathing, there’s plenty to be grateful for.
2. Minimize distractions at the dinner table
This means shutting off your phone and turning off the television. There is no better way to show you care than to be fully present when your loved ones are talking.
3. Learn about the lives and plights of the Native Peoples
Thanksgiving is not a happy holiday for everyone. For some native tribes, the arrival of European “pilgrims” meant destruction and sadness for their people. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to learn about the first American peoples- my favorite learning resources are The History Channel’s Native American section, Braiding Sweetgrass (book by Robin Wall Kimmerer), and Black Elk Speaks (book by John Neihardt).
4. Volunteer at a food drive or donate canned goods
Thanksgiving is not only about showing you’re grateful for those in your circle. Consider giving back to your community by donating your time or unused canned goods to those in need. You can check out Feeding America for more information on donating or volunteering at Food Drives in your area.
5. Be open-minded and considerate in your conversations
We all lead our own lives and that’s the beauty of life! Our individuality should be celebrated rather than questioned. You don’t have to love every decision someone makes to be respectful towards them. Take Thanksgiving as an opportunity to practice listening to your loved ones without judgment. Nobody wants to answer personal and prying questions at a dinner table filled with other guests on a good day. So keep questions like “why are you single/ not pregnant/ not super successful in their career/ etc.” out of the Thanksgiving Dinner conversations.
6. Plant some fall seeds in your garden
What better way to give thanks for all the food we eat than to plant some more? There are plenty of seeds that not only tolerate, but thrive when planted this time of year: leafy greens, veggie stock vegetables (onions, garlic, carrots), turnip, and wild flowers.
7. Lovingly clean up your yard and prepare for winter
Rake some leaves, prune some bushes, and harvest your late fall vegetables. This will all help the plants to conserve root energy and grow again in the springtime. Relish in the beautiful cycles of nature. Things may look dead now, but soon enough spring blooms will be here.
8. Make a gratitude list
This one is a bit introspective but super powerful. Studies show that practicing gratitude can actually change your brain structures and orient you toward a more happy life overall.
9. Express your gratitude
This one goes along with #1 but it extends to people not at your dinner table. Consider writing a letter or text to people you’re grateful for. Or you can show it with actions, lend a helping hand or do random acts of kindness for your loved ones.
10. Skip early Black Friday shopping
I think we should all boycott leaving the dinner table to go Black Friday shopping in the hopes to break the ‘earlier start each year’ cycle. Or better yet, skip Black Friday shopping altogether (or maybe try Small Business Saturday this year to celebrate local shop owners). You’re probably not getting as good as a deal as you think on Black Friday. Spend this precious time with your family instead.
We should all take this as an opportunity to focus on what matters in life: being grateful for the people you have in your life.
Please remember to celebrate safely this holiday season!
Thanks for reading xoxo