Make this the best Thanksgiving ever. The one everyone will remember because of the thankful and loving attitude that prevails. It may not be the biggest, nor the one with the most food and drink. Make this a giving-thanks Thanksgiving and your family and guests will recall it because of the giving thanks attitude.
Many Thanksgiving dinners have become feasts followed by naps or football on TV (or both). There's nothing wrong with a feast, but for a memorable feast set a tone of thanks-giving. You'll find a combination of good food, good family time, and gratitude will contribute to a heartwarming and memorable occasion.
- Giving thanks by expressing gratitude for the gifts we have makes us happy.
- Good food makes us happy.
- A good relationship makes us happy.
- Put them all together and you have the ingredients for great family memories.
In addition to the edible ingredients for your feast, add these:
- You're not Donna Reed so don't take on all food preparation by yourself. Make it a team effort.
- If other adults are attending ask them to bring a favorite dish.
- Enlist the help of children; assign each a duty consistent with their abilities.
- People enjoy contributing to a team effort. And contribution brings ownership, so everyone will feel responsible for making this day memorable.
- If this particular group tends to bicker and complain, approach each one separately before the day. Tell each that you'd like to try an experiment in which only positive communications take place for the whole day. Ask for their commitment to that goal.
- Treat each person as if this is the last Thanksgiving you'll have together.
- Invite a friend or neighbor who would otherwise be alone this holiday. No one should spend Thanksgiving by themselves. Share your goal of a totally positive day with each guest too.
- Either before or after the meal, ask each person if they'd like to express what they're thankful for. Start by doing that yourself.
Adopting an attitude of love, thanks, and giving will yield a memorable Thanksgiving day.
