Thanksgiving

I am looking forward to this Thanksgiving because I will be with my family and dear friends. But I am also anxious- about hosting a huge meal, providing the right atmosphere, and getting the details right. I want everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed, not overworked or stressed- including myself. How can I help to make it a great day for everyone and also retain my own contentment?

In order to set this day apart, I will treat it as a Sabbath… no unkind words, no rushing, no work that isn’t thankful work. It’s easy to go on automatic pilot, making pies and turkey with great busyness and efficiency; I choose instead to stay present, notice everything as if in slow motion, and pause often to observe what I am thankful for in this moment.

Take a deep breath and feel deep gratitude for what I have, for the abundance of having a home, a family and friends. Be thankful for the things I usually take for granted. Gratitude is an important part of being.

Agenda:
1. Thanksgiving Meditation:
I’m cooking a 15 lb. turkey this year, so it needs to go in the oven by 8 a.m. I will definitely be the first person awake in my house! In order to start the morning right, I plan to begin giving thanks before I get out of bed, and just stay in a thanksgiving meditation as long as I can...

I give thanks for my warm bed, for my slippers, my dog, my sleeping family, my clean kitchen, and my morning cup of coffee.

I give thanks for this lovely bird, which will feed us so well, for the pies on the table, and the abundance of food in the refrigerator.

2. Cook the Turkey:
Pretty basic plan: I will warm it to room temperature, rinse it off, pat it dry, stuff some fresh rosemary and thyme inside, and baste it with melted butter. I'm making the stuffing separately this year, with the giblets cooked in chicken stock.

3. Play (or watch) basketball:
My family plans to play ball together this morning... I plan to let them.

4. Give thanks:
Thankfulness is a powerful and transforming emotion. I hope to take time to feel each nuance of the day, to feel gratitude for each person present, and for each dish offered; and give thanks for the food, all the way back to its source and all who handled it on the way to our table.

I hope to take the time to connect deeply with the people I am with and appreciate each person’s uniqueness, and I challenge myself to find out something new about every person.


5. Play a table talk game:
I decided to play a game this year to get some interesting conversation going... I found the questions here and modified them for our group. I think it went pretty well, considering how shy most of us are! I learned a few things I didn't know.

• What are your hobbies?
• Do you have any good parenting advise?
• How are you like your parents? How are you different?
• What was the best job you ever had? The worst?
• Is there one person who has had a big impact on your life? Why?
• Who makes you laugh the hardest? Why?
• What is your favorite book? Why?
• What is your favorite movie? Why?
• What was the best trip you ever took? Why?
• If you could go somewhere you’ve never been, where would you go?
• What are two things you couldn’t live without?
• What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
• What do you consider to be your strongest character traits?
• What habits do you wish you didn’t have?
• What do you consider to be the biggest world events of your lifetime?
• What do you hope to be remembered for?